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- Tasks: Lead AF's commercial strategy and drive revenue growth while managing high-performing teams.
- Company: The AF Group is the UK's largest agricultural procurement cooperative, supporting 3,000 farming businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, free lunch, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Join a member-focused organisation that values transparency and trust, making a real impact in agriculture.
- Qualifications: Proven senior leadership experience with a sales-driven mindset and strong team development skills.
- Other info: Additional perks include life assurance, private health insurance, and discounts at hundreds of retailers.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The AF Group is the UK’s largest agricultural procurement cooperative, supporting approximately 3,000 farming and rural businesses by securing cost-effective procurement solutions, market insights, and trusted service delivery. As a member-owned organisation, we exist to help our Members "buy better, together."
The Chief Commercial Officer will lead AF’s commercial strategy, with a strong focus on driving revenue growth, increasing member penetration and retention, and expanding procurement offerings. This includes leading high-performing teams across customer service, sales, procurement, member engagement, and new category development for non-agricultural procurement.
Reporting directly into the CEO, the CCO will sit on the Senior Leadership Team ensuring commercial activities are fully aligned with AF’s purpose, values, and long-term growth ambitions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute AF’s commercial strategy
- Lead and grow income through both our sales and procurement teams identifying new revenue opportunities
- Drive a sales mentality within the commercial teams, reinforcing a growth mindset
- Oversee and motivate the sales and account management teams to deliver exceptional service and sustained growth
- Champion a Member-first approach—ensuring AF delivers on its promise of value, transparency, and trust
- Lead the development of new commercial offerings and membership models to attract and retain a broader Member base
- Unite Marketing, Member Services, and Procurement under one strategic umbrella driving revenue, market share and Member loyalty
- Monitor market trends and Member data to drive informed growth decisions
- Ensure Member satisfaction and retention offering an exceptional level of customer service to the Member
- Set challenging and stretching targets and KPIs for team members
- Drive accountability throughout the team across income, Member engagement and satisfaction
- Inspire and lead a cross-functional commercial team aligned to clear strategic objectives
- Identify new business opportunities for AF, aiming for increasing Member commitment and volumes along with attracting new Members to AF
- Collaborate with other senior leaders to shape AF’s digital transformation and future-facing capabilities
Procurement & Supplier Relationships:
This role will also have responsibility for non-agricultural procurement:
- Work closely with the agricultural procurement team to ensure consistent procurement processes, procedures and policies are adhered to throughout the organisation
- Support the Heads of department within your team and work collaboratively with the agricultural procurement team ensuring AF has robust, competitive supplier agreements
- Secure exclusive deals, improve performance regarding income streams into the business and strengthen supply resilience
Person Specification
Skills
Essential:
- Sales driven strategic thinker
- Growth mindset
- Uses data to make decisions
- Experience in leading, motivating and developing teams
- Ability to work cross-functionally and think ‘outside of the box’
Desirable:
- Procurement knowledge and experience
Experience
Essential:
- Proven senior commercial leadership experience
- Track record of driving sales and growth, and customer retention
- Strategic leader with an accomplished background in sales
Desirable:
- Agri-business background
- Experience of Membership based organisations
Personal Attributes
Essential:
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Relationship builder
- Strong influencer
- Natural self-motivator with strong interpersonal skills
- Has a positive outlook
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Benefits
Salary: Competitive + annual car allowance of £7,500
Hours: 37.5 per week Monday to Friday
Additional Benefits:
- 8% employer pension contribution
- 26 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays. This rises with each years service by an additional day, up to 7 extra days
- Have your birthday off as an extra days holiday, if it falls on your working day
- Free lunch daily from our onsite Café
- AF Membership (giving discounts at hundreds of retailers and suppliers)
- Life assurance
- Private Health Insurance (family cover)
- Discounted gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Hybrid working
- Free onsite parking
Contact Detail:
AF (The AF Group) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Commercial Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the agricultural procurement landscape in the UK. Understanding the current market trends and challenges faced by farming businesses will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to drive revenue growth during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the agri-business sector, especially those involved in membership-based organisations. Building relationships with key players can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to referrals or recommendations for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading cross-functional teams. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully driven collaboration between sales, marketing, and procurement to achieve common goals, as this is crucial for the Chief Commercial Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your data-driven decision-making skills. Be ready to explain how you've used data analytics in previous roles to identify new revenue opportunities and enhance customer retention, aligning with AF Group's focus on informed growth decisions.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Commercial Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Chief Commercial Officer position at AF Group. Make sure to understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in commercial strategy, sales growth, and team leadership. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive revenue and member engagement, aligning with the values of AF Group.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the agricultural sector and your strategic vision for the role. Mention how your previous experiences align with AF Group's mission of helping members 'buy better, together.'
Highlight Relevant Achievements: In both your CV and cover letter, include quantifiable achievements that reflect your success in driving sales and customer retention. This could be in the form of percentage increases in revenue or successful projects that enhanced member satisfaction.
How to prepare for a job interview at AF (The AF Group)
✨Understand the Commercial Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the agricultural procurement sector and the specific challenges faced by organisations like AF Group. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their commercial strategy and how you can drive revenue growth.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Chief Commercial Officer, you'll need to lead high-performing teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully motivated and developed teams in the past, particularly in sales and customer service environments.
✨Emphasise a Member-First Approach
AF Group prioritises member satisfaction and retention. Be ready to discuss strategies you've implemented to enhance customer engagement and loyalty, demonstrating your commitment to a member-first philosophy.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Highlight your ability to think strategically and use data-driven insights to inform decisions. Prepare to discuss how you've identified new business opportunities and driven growth in previous roles.