Head of Commercial in Manchester

SALARY: £35,000 per annum

MAIN LOCATION: Contact but may be required to work at other venues as required (Hybrid)

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Finance

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Commercial Services Manager

WORKS WITH: All Teams

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 8th June 2026 Midnight

HOURS: Full Time 100:80:100 - this means that full time is equivalent to 4 days a week

STATUS: Permanent

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

Contact is a national leader in youth‑driven theatre, creativity, and social change. The Head of Commercial will drive the organisation’s earned‑income strategy, developing sustainable commercial activity that strengthens Contact’s financial resilience while aligning with its artistic and social mission. This senior role leads the development and delivery of commercial operations including venue hire, bar and café services, commercial partnerships, and new revenue‑generating initiatives. It requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands‑on delivery, and a deep commitment to Contact’s values of youth leadership, equity, and community impact.

Key responsibilities

• Commercial strategy and leadership
  • Develop and deliver a multi‑year commercial strategy that grows earned income across all business areas.
  • Identify new commercial opportunities that complement Contact’s artistic and social purpose.
  • Lead financial modelling, pricing strategies, and business cases for new ventures.
  • Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to embed commercial thinking across the organisation.
• Venue hire, events, and hospitality
  • Oversee the growth of venue hire, conferencing, and events, ensuring high‑quality customer experience.
  • Lead the development of Contact’s bar, café, and hospitality offer, maximising profitability while maintaining accessibility.
  • Manage relationships with suppliers, contractors, and partners to ensure efficient and cost‑effective operations.
• Partnerships and commercial collaborations
  • Develop and manage commercial partnerships with businesses, agencies, and creative industries.
  • Negotiate contracts, sponsorships, and in‑kind support that enhance Contact’s commercial portfolio.
  • Work with the Marketing and Development teams to align commercial partnerships with brand and fundraising activity.
• Enterprise and creative industry development
  • Support the growth of youth‑led and community‑led enterprise initiatives, ensuring they are commercially viable and socially impactful.
  • Explore opportunities for creative workshops, training programmes, and consultancy services.
  • Champion Contact’s role as a hub for young creatives, freelancers, and emerging cultural entrepreneurs.
• Financial and operational management
  • Set and monitor commercial KPIs, reporting regularly to the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Manage budgets, management accounts & forecasts, and performance dashboards for all commercial areas.
  • Ensure compliance with licensing, health and safety, and operational standards.
• Team leadership
  • Lead and develop staff across commercial operations, including café and bar and events.
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and youth‑centred working culture.
  • Provide coaching and support to young people involved in commercial activity.

GENERAL

• To act as a member of the Senior Management Team, working strategically on the development of the organisation as a whole.
• To provide mentoring and support to young people and on occasions deliver training/workshops in areas relevant to your job role.
• In line with Contact’s governance model, pro-actively engage young people in decision-making through consultations, young people’s panels and other mechanisms relevant to your job role.
• Manage all data in line with GDPR regulations.
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required in connection with the position.
• To advise and report regularly on activity as required by the wider Senior Management Team, Board and sub-boards, supplying any data required to meet funder reporting requirements.
• To provide mentoring and support to young people and on occasions deliver training/workshops in areas relevant to your job role.
• In line with Contact’s governance model, pro-actively engage young people in decision-making through consultations, young people’s panels and other mechanisms relevant to your job role.
• To manage all personal data in line with the General Data Protection Regulations, using the Spektrix database as directed.
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required in connection with the position.

Person specification

Essential

• Significant experience in commercial management within the arts, hospitality, events, or creative industries.
• Proven track record of growing earned income and delivering profitable commercial operations.
• Strong financial literacy, including budgeting, forecasting, and business modelling.
• Excellent negotiation, partnership‑building, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Experience leading teams and managing operational delivery.
• Commitment to Contact’s values: youth leadership, equity, creativity, and community impact.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Manchester’s cultural, commercial, and hospitality landscape.
• Experience developing hospitality or retail offers in cultural venues.
• Understanding of social enterprise models and youth‑led business development.
• Experience working in a charity or publicly funded arts organisation.