Commercial Director (Executive Board)

Location: Ideally Midlands, London or Bristol, with a minimum of two days per week at a Make UK location and regular travel. Competitive salaries and excellent benefits including up to one day’s paid leave each year to undertake volunteering opportunities.

At Make UK, we represent and champion the interests of UK manufacturing, supporting businesses through a broad range of commercial services, expertise and partnerships. We’re now looking for an exceptional Commercial Director to join our Executive Board and lead the next phase of our commercial growth. This is a high-profile leadership role with real scope to make an impact.

You’ll be responsible for shaping and delivering Make UK’s commercial growth strategy, bringing together Business Development, Key Accounts and Marketing, while working closely with leaders across our HR & Legal, HR Consultancy, Environment, Health & Safety, Membership, Partnerships & Events and wider Make Group businesses.

We want to build a more commercially confident, collaborative and client-focused organisation – breaking down silos, strengthening relationships, creating more opportunities to cross-sell and ensuring our clients experience the full value of Make UK.

Responsibilities

The role involves providing strategic commercial leadership while remaining close to the day-to-day realities of business development and client relationships. You’ll lead our Key Account Directors, Key Account Managers and Business Development teams, creating a consistent and disciplined approach to pipeline development, account management and growth. Alongside this, you’ll provide strategic leadership to Marketing, ensuring campaigns, events, thought leadership and digital activity are closely aligned to our commercial priorities.

• Develop and deliver Make UK’s commercial growth strategy across our commercial businesses.
• Lead and develop the Business Development and Key Account functions, driving accountability, focus and commercial discipline.
• Develop strategic account management and pipeline growth, increasing retention, cross‑selling and client value.
• Lead the Marketing function and align its activity with wider commercial objectives.
• Work closely with Business Unit Heads to identify and develop new growth opportunities.
• Build a more commercially aware and BD-confident culture across Make UK.
• Break down organisational silos and create a genuinely One Team approach to client development.
• Build strong relationships with senior clients, prospects and strategic partners.
• Support major bids, pitches and strategic account opportunities.
• Represent Make UK externally through networking, events, speaking opportunities and thought leadership.
• Introduce meaningful commercial reporting, KPIs and measurement frameworks.
• Work closely with Finance to strengthen forecasting and revenue visibility.
• Coach and influence colleagues at all levels, helping develop stronger relationship‑building and client engagement skills.

Requirements

We’re looking for an experienced commercial leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach. You’ll have a strong track record of leading commercial, business development or client relationship teams and will be comfortable operating at Executive Board level while remaining close to clients, teams and opportunities.

You’ll ideally bring experience within the legal, HR, employment, advisory or professional services environment, with a strong understanding of relationship‑led B2B services. Crucially, you’ll also have in-house experience within a corporate or blue-chip organisation and understand how to influence key accounts, embed best practice and build commercial capability internally. You’ll be credible, visible and approachable, with the ability to influence senior leaders and operational teams alike.

• Collaborative and relationship‑led
• Commercially curious
• Strategic but practical
• Visible and approachable
• Solutions‑focused
• Proactive and accountable
• Comfortable challenging the status quo
• Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement

Why Make UK?

This is an opportunity to join the Executive Board of a high‑profile organisation at the heart of UK manufacturing and play a significant role in shaping how we grow and engage with our clients. You’ll have the opportunity to influence commercial strategy across a diverse portfolio of services, work alongside experienced leaders across the organisation and make a tangible difference to our commercial performance and culture.

With over 125 years of experience, Make UK is a leading provider of essential business support and a champion for manufacturing industry in the UK. Make UK has the close ear of Government and is a trusted provider of essential services for world leading manufacturing companies across the country. Everything we do is designed to inspire British manufacturers to compete, innovate and grow.

Make UK staff enjoy a good benefits package and values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Benefits to include, but not limited to: no bank holiday/weekend work, flexible hours, health cover, matched pension contributions up to 8%, and life assurance.

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and we recognise the contribution that Service personnel, both regular and reservist, veterans and military families make to our organisation and have pledged to support this by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Our Values at Make UK: Inclusivity & Diversity, Integrity, Innovation, & Collaboration.