Head of Commercial Operations

HEAD OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

– Paternity Leave coverage, Fixed Term

– Reporting to GM Commercial

– Ideally based in Mascot, Hybrid role

Introduction to 5B and 5B Maverick:

5B is an Australian renewable energy technology business. Our name is a constant reminder of the 5 billion years of sunshine we have left, and motivates us to strive for the simplest, most effective ways to leverage this resource.

We're transforming large-scale solar by building and delivering the 5B Maverick, an innovative prefabricated solution, purpose-built and optimised from first principles to redefine how large-scale solar farms are constructed. The solution is structurally efficient, aerodynamic and gets installed at light speed.

5B was recently awarded AUD 46 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) with a significant portion of this funding dedicated to a large R&D and Product Development program to further optimise the solution and accelerate its delivery.

For more company information please visit: Home | 5B – Solar Reinvented

Primary purpose of role:

The primary purpose of this role is to drive the commercial success of the business by managing customer relationships, shaping and executing commercial agreements, and supporting go-to-market initiatives. The role acts as a bridge between customers, sales people, the executive team, and cross-functional stakeholders — ensuring that customer needs are met while aligning with the company's strategic and financial objectives.

This position combines account management, commercial strategy, and execution, requiring a balance of customer focus, analytical rigour, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver sustainable growth in the solar energy market. It involves both internal operations and external support for sales, including managing select accounts.

Core accountabilities:

Customer & Account Management – Support customer relationships, side by side our sales people, through regular meetings, visits, and workshops to strengthen partnerships and identify opportunities.

Contracting & Pricing – Manage contracting processes, pricing models, and bid submissions, ensuring commercial outcomes are competitive and sustainable.

Sales Enablement – Work with our product/technology teams to develop, maintain, and update sales and marketing materials, FAQs, and tools to support business development and customer engagement.

Go-to-Market & Business Development – Support go-to-market strategies, lead generation, and pipeline management (including Salesforce).

Project Coordination – Collaborate with delivery, supply chain, and operations teams to align scheduling, planning, and execution.

Commercial Tools & Risk Management – Collaborate with our technical team to maintain pricing tools, cost bases, and risk registers to ensure accurate and informed decision-making.

Executive & Board Support – Prepare board materials and executive-level updates that align operational performance with strategic priorities.

S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) – Contribute to S&OP processes, particularly from a customer demand perspective to ensure demand is effectively matched with supply capability.

Methodology & Process Adoption – Apply structured methodologies (e.g., Korn Ferry, Miller Heiman) to strengthen customer engagement and sales effectiveness.

Team & Cross-Functional Engagement – Collaborate across functions (technology, supply chain, finance, legal) to deliver on strategic and commercial outcomes.

The ideal candidate:

We are seeking a highly proactive and adaptable individual who thrives both working autonomously and collaborating across functions. You should have strong commercial experience, confidence engaging with customers, and the ability to handle both detailed tasks and broader business priorities.

Above all, we value someone who is solutions-focused, able to "get things done", and who can seamlessly navigate between detail-oriented tasks and high-level strategic objectives.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in business, commerce, finance, economics, engineering, renewables, or related field.

Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, Master's) desirable but not essential if supported by equivalent experience.

Knowledge:

• Demonstrated commercial and strategic acumen from roles in management consulting, strategy, or commercial teams.
• Knowledge of the energy / renewables / solar sector is highly regarded.

Experience:

• 7+ years in commercial roles (e.g., strategy, operations, consulting, sales, advisory) with strong problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Hands-on commercial, sales operations, or customer-facing experience, with a track record of aligning customer needs to business strategy.
• Exposure to fast-paced, high growth environments (start-up, scale-up or transformation focused business), demonstrating adaptability, resilience and the ability to execute under ambiguity.
• A track record of cross-functional collaboration across technology, supply chain, legal, finance, successfully delivering initiatives that require alignment across diverse teams.
• Experience in people management, including leading and developing a team, with a focus on coaching, providing feedback, delegation, and building capability.
• Comfort working directly with executive leadership teams, influencing decision making and balancing immediate operational needs with longer-term strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership and deliver results autonomously, whilst also thriving as part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.

Critical Skills:

Financial modelling & analysis – able to build and interpret commercial models, assess business cases, and use data to inform decision-making.

Project management – skilled at structuring initiatives, managing timelines, coordinating stakeholders, and delivering outcomes on time.

Presentation & storytelling – able to translate complex analysis into clear, compelling recommendations for executives, boards, and customers.

Contract & legal literacy – comfortable reviewing key commercial terms and working with legal teams to progress agreements.

Customer engagement – adept at running workshops, pitching solutions, and building long-term customer relationships.

Tech & data fluency – confident collaborating with product and technology teams, with an ability to understand technical concepts and link them to business outcomes. Comfortable utilising LLMs to drive efficiency.

Operational understanding – awareness of supply chain and operational drivers, enabling effective collaboration with these functions.

What is it like to work here?

At 5B, we prioritise the well-being and satisfaction of our team members, offering a range of perks that enhance work-life balance and cater to diverse needs. Our best practice leave policies underscore our commitment to supporting employees at every stage of their journey. From Birthday Leave to the option of salary sacrificing for additional 2 weeks Annual Leave, we empower our team to enjoy ample time off for rest and rejuvenation.

Recognizing loyalty and dedication, we provide incremental increases in leave entitlements over your years of service, capping out at an additional 5 days over the first 5 years with us. Our comprehensive gender-neutral Parental Leave policy reflects our dedication to inclusivity and equality, ensuring that all employees have the support they need during significant life transitions. Moreover, our Floating Public Holiday Policy and Flexible Working arrangements demonstrate our commitment to respecting diverse cultural and personal preferences, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

Additionally, our Salary Sacrifice program extends beyond leave, offering opportunities to invest in personal and professional development, including technology, EV/PHEV transportation, and financial security. At 5B, we believe in empowering our team members to thrive both inside and outside the workplace, embodying our commitment to excellence and inclusivity.