Contract Type: Permanent

Ricardo - Pushing Boundaries: A World leader in propulsion engineering from concept to production                                                                

Ricardo is a trusted engineering partner specialising in complex propulsion, driveline, and energy systems. We work with customers globally to deliver end-to-end solutions from initial design through to full production. For over 110 years, we have been at the forefront of world changing engineering innovation, partnering with many of the world’s most ambitious organisations to improve performance, push boundaries, and accelerate progress.
Headquartered in Shoreham by Sea (UK), Ricardo brings together more than 1,000 experts and delivers in excess of 200 major programmes globally at any given time. For more information, visit www.ricardo.com 

The Role

The Head of Commercial Development is a dedicated leadership role within MTC Driveline, reporting directly to the General Manager and serving as a member of the Driveline Leadership Team. Whilst maintaining close alignment with the Group Business Development organisation, this role retains ownership of Driveline's commercial strategy, market priorities, customer engagement approach and growth agenda.

The Driveline manufacturing & assembly business is entering a period of significant transformation. Whilst we remain proud of our motorsport heritage and existing customer relationships, we must diversify into new markets, broaden our customer base and build a sustainable pipeline of higher-value opportunities to secure future growth.

The Head of Commercial Development, Driveline will lead this transformation by defining and delivering the commercial strategy required to reposition the business, expand into targeted growth sectors including aerospace, defence and autonomous systems, and create a sustainable platform for long-term growth.

As a member of the Driveline Leadership Team, this role will play a key part in shaping the future direction of the business. The position combines strategic market leadership, commercial transformation and growth delivery, ensuring Driveline is positioned to capture emerging opportunities across both existing and adjacent markets.

The role has accountability for defining where Driveline will compete, how it will win, and how future capability and investment priorities are shaped through market insight. Working alongside the wider Ricardo Business Development organisation, the Head of Commercial Development will coordinate the commercial agenda required to convert Driveline’s engineering, machining and assembly capabilities into long-term commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Transformation

• Define, develop and lead the commercial strategy for Driveline.
• Identify and prioritise target markets, customers and growth opportunities aligned to the business strategy.
• Lead the commercial transformation agenda, helping define where the business will compete and how it will create competitive advantage.
• Translate market intelligence, customer insight and industry trends into actionable growth plans.
• Provide recommendations regarding future capability development and investment priorities based on market opportunities.

Market Positioning & Growth

• Develop and strengthen Driveline’s market positioning, value proposition and competitive differentiation.
• Build and maintain a qualified pipeline capable of replacing declining legacy revenue streams.
• Target and secure opportunities within aerospace, defence, autonomous systems and other high-value growth sectors.

Strategic Partnerships

• Identify, develop and manage strategic partnerships, alliances and collaboration opportunities that support growth objectives.
• Evaluate partnership opportunities that accelerate entry into priority markets and strengthen competitive positioning.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the commercial lead within the business transformation programme.
• Contribute actively as a member of the Driveline Leadership Team.
• Provide regular commercial, market and pipeline updates to the General Manager and Leadership Team.

Success Measures

• Growth in qualified opportunity pipeline value.
• Expansion of the customer base across identified strategic sectors.
• Reduction in reliance on a small number of legacy customers and markets.
• Successful implementation of Driveline's commercial strategy.
• Effective contribution as a member of the Driveline Leadership Team.

Key Competencies and Experience               

 We are seeking a commercially driven leader with experience of shaping market strategy, opening new markets and delivering growth within complex manufacturing, engineering or technology-led businesses.

• Proven success in commercial leadership, strategic business development and market expansion.
• Experience within aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems or related sectors.
• Experience defining growth strategies and commercial transformation programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and long-term customer relationships.
• A track record of converting technical capability into sustainable commercial opportunity.

Working here

You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place.

We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on. Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and to ensure an inclusive culture, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

Ricardo is a Disability confident employer please advise the recruitment team via recruit@ricardo.com if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process.