Head of Commercial and Contract Management, Business Area Surveillance

Business Area Surveillance, where this position is located, is Saab’s largest business area and is a key growth driver, providing advanced radar, sensor, electronic warfare and command-and-control systems for defence and civil security customers.

It is organised into five business units covering airborne early warning, digital battlespace, surface sensors, fighter capabilities, and safety and security solutions. The area is recognised for strong growth, a solid order backlog and continued high demand for surveillance and air defence capabilities.

Surveillance has a strong base in Sweden and an expanding international footprint, with production and development in several locations across the globe.

Your role

The Head of Commercial and Contract Management (CCM) leads a central, business critical function for Business Area Surveillance, with full responsibility for commercial governance, risk management, price and contract strategy across the business. The role shapes and executes commercial models, actively participates in negotiations and develops the Commercial and Contract Management organisation to secure profitable growth, disciplined risk taking and long-term value creation.

You will lead a central function of experienced senior specialists responsible for commercial and contract management across Business Area Surveillance, with a couple of direct managerial reports and scope to further develop the organisation. The team works closely with marketing, product management and sales to balance commercial execution, profitability, risk and contractual quality.

The role is key in Surveillance’s transition from project-based deliveries to a more product- and software-driven model, strengthening the focus on pricing, commercial structures, risk management and scalable offerings while avoiding legacy-type contract exposure.

It covers commercial responsibility for major programs and radar and surveillance contracts, including pricing, contract design and offset commitments, in close cooperation with accountable business owners. As part of the senior leadership team, the role also contributes to strategy, investments, portfolio development and partnerships, ensuring alignment between commercial direction and long-term business priorities.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Own and drive commercial governance, risk assessment and value-based recommendations across Business Area Surveillance.
• Set and enforce standards for risk appetite, deal structures and contractual integrity from capture to long-term execution.
• Shape and evolve business models to secure profitable, scalable growth, including the shift toward software, services and systems integration.
• Lead the development of standardised, scalable offerings with clear service levels, statements of work and pricing structures.
• Secure disciplined contract execution, including management of obligations, risks, changes and value realisation.
• Lead or support key customer negotiations to ensure balanced risk, sound terms and alignment with Saab’s strategic objectives.
• Coordinate commercial matters with Legal, Compliance, Sourcing, Finance and other core functions to ensure coherence and compliance.
• Align commercial work with sales, marketing, product development and production to enable effective strategy execution and delivery.
• Build and maintain a highly performing Commercial and Contract Management team and develop future commercial leaders and negotiators.

You will report to the Vice President & CFO of Surveillance. The organisation is primarily located in Stockholm (Solna, preferred location) and Gothenburg, with a limited presence at additional sites. This role requires regular presence at key locations and flexibility to operate across offices.

Your profile

• Senior international commercial leadership experience from large industrial businesses with long, complex and high‑risk contracts.
• Proven leadership of senior specialist teams, preferably across multiple sites and countries.
• Strong track record in building key customer relationships and leading complex, high‑value negotiations.
• Solid business management background, used to long investment and bid cycles, product life cycles and portfolio decisions.
• Documented experience of driving structural changes in organisations, including ways of working and governance.
• Experience from environments with strict commercial and contract governance, legacy contracts, high capex and high compliance demands.
• Experience of leading and driving commercial work across multiple business areas, functions and countries in a complex matrix organisation.
• Fluency in Swedish and English, verbal and written.
• Relevant university degree is required.

We place value not only on your experience, but also on your personal qualities. We are looking for someone with a clear, firm and collaborative leadership style, grounded in high integrity. You build an autonomous team that both challenges and supports the business, creating a culture of accountability and initiative.

You are a strong communicator, able to explain commercial considerations and risks in a concrete and accessible way. With a business-enabling mindset, you focus on profitable, well-structured deals rather than pure control.

You are comfortable taking a clear position in risk and governance discussions, while maintaining trust with stakeholders. You operate effectively in complex, international matrix environments with many stakeholders and high demands, navigating these with structure and sound judgement.

You are also committed to developing commercial talent and future negotiation leaders through coaching and mentorship.

This position requires that you pass a security vetting based on the current regulations around/of security protection. For positions requiring security clearance additional obligations on citizenship may apply.

What you will be part of

Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 26,100 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations. Read more about us here

Kindly observe that this is an ongoing recruitment process and that the position might be filled before the closing date of the advertisement.