At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a commercial strategy and generate non-fee income for the school.
- Company: Worksop College and Ranby House, a vibrant community-focused educational institution.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, fee concessions, pension scheme, gym access, and free meals on duty.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with a focus on human flourishing and community engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education while driving innovative commercial opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial strategy, business development, and strong interpersonal skills.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Location: Worksop College, UK
Salary: Competitive
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Patterns: Full-Time
Application Deadline: Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Expected Working Start Date: As Soon As Possible
About us
Worksop College and Ranby House; one community set across two schools - educating children from age two to eighteen. We're proud of being a broad-ability school with a focus firmly on progress, recognising that every child has their own set of skills and abilities, whether it be academic, sporting, musical or otherwise. We believe that education is about more than the flight towards academic success, but about human flourishing.
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded Head of Commercial to lead the development and delivery of a robust commercial strategy across Worksop College and Ranby House. This is a new and exciting opportunity to shape the School’s future by generating non-fee income through innovative use of our facilities, building strong partnerships, and delivering exceptional experiences for external clients.
Working closely with academic and support staff, as well as external stakeholders, the post-holder will focus on optimising the School’s resources to increase revenue in a way that complements our educational mission. The role sits within the External Relations team and reports directly to the Director of External Relations.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the ambitions of the School’s Development Plan, contributing to improvements to facilities, increased access, and the delivery of our charitable objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of the School’s commercial strategy, ensuring alignment with its educational ethos and Development Plan.
- Identify, develop and manage income-generating opportunities including lettings, events, partnerships and education-related services.
- Oversee commercial use of school facilities outside core hours, including bookings, contracts, invoicing and insurance.
- Ensure all commercial activity complies with safeguarding, health & safety, GDPR, and legal requirements.
- Prepare business cases, financial forecasts and performance reports; monitor budgets, KPIs and profitability.
- Work collaboratively with Estates, Finance, Catering, IT, Marketing and academic teams to deliver successful commercial operations.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners, local businesses and community organisations.
- Lead marketing and promotional activity for commercial offerings, informed by market trends and competitor analysis.
- Identify and assess opportunities for external funding, grants and trusts where aligned with School priorities.
- Support capital planning, school events and fundraising initiatives where commercial expertise is required.
Essential Criteria
- Proven experience developing and delivering commercial strategies in a facilities, service, or venue-focused environment.
- Experience in business development, events, lettings, or partnership management.
- Strong commercial acumen, including budget management and forecasting.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Proactive, organised, and capable of working independently to drive initiatives.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management.
- Competence in managing bookings systems and commercial processes.
Desired Criteria
- Experience within an independent school or education setting.
- Familiarity with school lettings software or CRM systems.
- Experience producing business cases or commercial proposals.
- Knowledge of charity regulation and income generation under charitable status.
- Understanding of digital marketing and brand management.
- Experience managing third-party suppliers or contractual relationships.
For this post applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including, but not limited to, reference checks with previous employers, online searches, prohibition checks and a criminal record check via the Applicants Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List Check). All offers of employment are conditional upon the satisfactory outcome of child protection screening checks.
Benefits
- Fee concessions for your children
- Workplace pension scheme
- Access to gym, sports hall and swimming pool
- Free meals provided when on duty
- Free onsite parking
You may also have experience in the following: Head of Commercial, Business Development Manager, Partnerships Manager, Venue/Facilities Manager, Events Manager, Lettings Manager, External Relations Manager, Revenue Manager, Strategic Partnerships Lead, Commercial Operations Manager, Development Manager (Income Generation), School Commercial Lead, Marketing & Commercial Strategy Manager, Business Strategy Manager.
Head of Commercial in Worksop employer: Historic Royal Palaces
Historic Royal Palaces is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at the iconic Hampton Court Palace while contributing to the preservation and engagement of our rich heritage. With a strong commitment to employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and a focus on diversity and inclusion, we ensure that every team member feels valued and empowered to make a meaningful impact. Join us in a role that not only enhances your professional skills but also allows you to be part of a mission that brings history to life for everyone.
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial in Worksop
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