Commercial Manager

Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) are seeking an experienced and commercially driven professional to join as Commercial Manager (Maternity Cover). This is an exciting opportunity to build and manage key relationships with commercial partners while identifying and securing new revenue streams to support the Party’s work. With primary responsibility for commercial revenue across our high-profile Conference programme, you will play a central role in developing creative sponsorship opportunities and delivering impactful partnerships that enhance engagement and visibility. This is a fixed-term maternity cover position, expected to commence in July, offering a unique opportunity to work within a fast-paced, high-impact environment and contribute directly to a nationally recognised organisation, based at either our Leeds or London office.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and drive the Party’s revenue streams across exhibition, fringe, sponsorship agreements, Dedicated Spaces, Lounges, Marquees, regional and special events.
• Support the delivery of annual Party Conference from a budget control and income perspective.
• Maintain master budget and monitor expenditure, seeking cost savings where possible and raising purchase orders.
• Liaise with Finance to ensure on‑time billing and money collection for responsible 3rd parties.
• Recruit, train, and supervise additional seasonal staff (both existing CCHQ colleagues and temporary contracts).
• Support regional colleagues to secure sponsorship of smaller regional events.
• Line Management of a Conference & Events Coordinator.
• Coordinate post‑event analysis. Analyse attendance, participation and satisfaction figures and prepare narrative with the Operations Manager.
• Morning walkaround to check on all clients during Live phase with the Operations Manager.
• Co‑ordinate with the Conference Operations Manager on the allocation of space for dedicated spaces and marquees.
• Sell advertising across digital and print channels including the app, fringe guide, CPC out‑of‑home sites and member publications.
• Manage client contracts and oversee invoicing and debt process for sales generated.
• Liaise with Legal and Financial Compliance colleagues to ensure our contractual arrangements meet the needs of both Party and client.
• Provide regular financial (sales activity) reports to senior management team and contribute to budgeting process across Exhibition, Fringe, Dedicated Spaces, Accreditation, Hotels and Sponsorship.
• Work closely with the Conference Operations Manager to ensure seamless handoff between sales/contracting and delivery/implementation phases.
• Liaise with the Conservative Research Department and Financial Compliance teams to ensure client suitability and adherence with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
• Input to and keep up to date a soon‑to‑launch new database of clients and prospective clients.
• Monitor and regularly review other large‑scale conferences (both political and non) to ensure that the CPC product offers attractive and creative opportunities for both clients and attendees.
• Maintain relations with top 25 PR and lobbying firms and venue‑linked tourist organisations to promote Conference and wider CCHQ opportunities.
• In collaboration with the Conference Operations Manager hold debriefs with clients to understand requirements for future years.

Your professional experience:

• Detailed oriented and deadline driven with solid project management skills.
• A proven ability to communicate effectively with other internal and external teams.
• Outstanding sales and relationship management skills.
• Experience of online and virtual events preferred.
• Experience in MICE sales and marketing required.
• A good team player.
• Confident and proactive, able to develop new and creative ideas to support revenue targets.
• Embraces challenges with enthusiasm and creativity.

What benefits do you get working at CCHQ?

Here at CCHQ, we value our colleagues and the work they do for us. In return we offer a wide variety of benefits for our colleagues that you can utilise. We offer a generous 25‑day annual leave, pro‑rated for part time staff and all UK bank holidays off, and 3 days additional leave in the year if you marry or enter a civil partnership.