Commercial Manager

Introduction

Alpha Trains has owned and leased locomotives and passenger trains for 25 years. More than 150 employees of various nationalities are active across Europe. Our more than 1,000 locomotives and passenger trains are utilized in 22 European countries.

Your tasks

Who we are looking for

For our Locomotives team in Cologne, we are looking for a Commercial Manager for the German market who will be responsible for developing and executing new rail freight leasing business in Germany, with a strong focus on new customer acquisition and portfolio build-up. You will manage the full commercial cycle - from first contact through contract execution implementation - while driving Alpha Trains' commercial growth and strengthening its local market presence in one of Europe's most competitive and opportunity-rich rail markets.

WHAT WOULD KEEP YOU BUSY

New Business Development & Prospecting

• Actively identify and acquire new customers through market research, competitive analysis, and industry networking.
• Proactively contact prospects (phone, email, customer visits, fairs, conferences) to generate leads and create new leasing opportunities.
• Build a strong, high-quality sales pipeline and convert opportunities into successful leasing transactions.

Customer Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary commercial contact and manage customer relationships end to end - from first engagement to final implementation.
• Develop and strengthen existing customer relationships, identifying additional business opportunities and supporting portfolio growth.

Commercial Execution

• Lead commercial and contractual negotiations to achieve high customer satisfaction and long-term commitments.
• Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders (technical, legal, finance, operations) to accommodate customer requirements and deliver commercially viable solutions.
• Prepare and present business cases for new opportunities, including commercial, market, and financial analyses.

Market Intelligence & Reporting

• Monitor market trends, customer demand, and competitor activity to support strategic decision making.
• Maintain accurate forecasts, pipeline reporting, and market insights for internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to fleet utilisation, revenue targets, and risk management.

Your profile

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

If you are excited about joining our team, here is what we are looking for in the ideal candidate:

• Very strong German language skills (business-proficient; daily working language)
• Good command of English; comfortable working in an international environment
• Experience in commercial roles with a strong focus on prospecting and new business development
• Affinity with the railway or logistics industry, and/or relevant financial or leasing experience
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills; proactive, hands-on, and structured
• Based in Cologne or willing to relocate, with a high willingness to travel

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU

At Alpha Trains we have a mission: to keep our employees happy. So, we go the extra mile to make your working life more enjoyable: From fresh apples in our office fruit basket to annual company offsites, from bike leasing options so you can get to the office in style to an insurance package that gives you the peace of mind you need. Want more transparency? Attend our weekly town hall meetings. And because we are all about collaboration, we keep our hierarchies flat and friendly.

And, last but not least, prepare to meet the most awesome, dedicated and party-ready colleagues at Alpha Trains.

Not fully convinced? We asked our colleagues: what makes working at Alpha Trains special: Employee film