Head of Commercial Planning & Projects - 12m FTC

Stonegate Group is the UK’s largest operator of pubs, bars, and late-night venues, including Slug & Lettuce, Be At One, and Popworld. We’re proud of our diverse portfolio and deeply committed to creating an inclusive culture that embraces individuality in all its forms—including neurodiversity. By fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported, we reflect the vibrant communities we serve and empower our people to thrive.

The Opportunity

As the Head of Commercial Planning & Projects, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the commercial strategy across all STG business units to achieve volumes, sales and EBITDA targets. Reporting directly to the Director of Insights and Planning, you will work closely with FP&A teams, marketing, operations and sales and will be responsible for delivering a trading plan across all STG formats and key ‘gold’ projects. By working closely with Senior Partners across the Pub Support team you will create and own an integrated commercial plan and will ensure that activities align with the format’s strategic priorities and market opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Your leadership and commercial acumen will be instrumental in identifying new opportunities, optimising our proposition, and ensuring a seamless customer experience that aligns with our format promise.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement the overall commercial strategy in alignment with Stonegate’s strategy, business goals and objectives. Own the integrated business planning process and support the division in the development of the annual integrated commercial plans, ensuring that strategic insight, direction and KPI analysis are all leveraged.
• Lead and deliver high-impact commercial ‘Gold Projects’—including sport and major tournaments, Christmas, Pride and Students—end to end.
• Identify opportunities, shape strategy and work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, sales and finance to translate plans into fully integrated, commercially successful initiatives.
• Provide leadership to the Commercial Project Manager to ensure the effective delivery of these complex, cross-functional workstreams that drive revenue, growth and long-term value.
• Maintain full visibility of project activity across the business, supported by clear documentation, ensuring teams are aligned, learnings are shared and delivery adheres to agreed plans, timelines and commercial outcomes.
• Work with and manage stakeholders to find the optimal way to run engagement sessions across teams for these projects.
• Sales Performance & Governance: Monitor and analyse activity performance delivering clear ROI and in turn developing insights recommending actions to improve results.
• Take ownership of the Division’s Risks and Opportunities, and collation of the pre-business review evaluation in conjunction with the Finance Business Lead.
• Promotion: Work collaboratively with FP&A, Revenue and Margin Management teams on promotional activity – ensuring financial owned promotions complement marketing promotional activity.
• The Head of Commercial Planning will be responsible for the positioning of strategy based on data insights and the owner of all marketing-led promotional activity whilst the FP&A aligned teams will be responsible for group pricing strategy & relativity between brands and formats as well as application at site and band levels, and the pricing strategy of the format and range architecture.
• This role will also need to have visibility of what is happening from a pricing strategy/trial perspective.
• Market Analysis: Work with the insight and category team to incorporate market research, competitor analysis, and customer insights to identify trends and opportunities for strategic business planning.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with your aligned partners in Finance, as well as category and insights, marketing, commercial and operations, to ensure seamless execution of commercial strategies and alignment across departments. Also to utilise Data science team to inform insight.
• Manage the Commercial Project Manager in their role to provide budget management for the marketing department as a whole, including both the internal marketing spend and the A&P investment.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in a financial or Business related field is advantageous.
• Proven experience in a senior financial or commercial management role within the hospitality, food and beverage, or related industries.
• Strong track record of developing and implementing successful commercial strategies that drive revenue growth and profitability.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Strategic thinker with a strong analytical mindset, using data to inform decisions and identify business opportunities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Knowledge of the UK pub and hospitality market is highly beneficial.
• Proficiency in using relevant software tools for financial analysis and commercial planning.
• A passion for the pub industry and a customer-centric approach to business planning.

What makes Stonegate a great place to work?

At Stonegate, we believe that when you feel your best, you do your best. That’s why we’re committed to supporting the health, happiness, and overall wellbeing of every team member. From lifestyle perks and flexible support to mental health resources, our benefits are designed to help you thrive, both in and out of work.

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Bonus Scheme.
• Access to discounted Private Medical Insurance through Vitality.
• Exclusive discounts on Dental Insurance.
• Reward Card via the MiXR app, giving you and your friends 25% off food and drinks as well as VIP entry across our Managed Estate.
• Life Assurance which gives access to Help @ Hand.
• Access to your pay early via Stream.
• The Stonegate Xtra portal with access to a wide range of high street discounts and offers.
• Discounted access to David Lloyd membership.
• Award winning Learning & Development programmes to drive your career.

If you have a disability as outlined by the Equality Act 2010 and require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please let us know in advance so that any support, aids or adaptations can be put in place to assist you. You can contact us on hrsupport@stonegategroup.co.uk.