At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth strategy for our Quick Service Restaurant division and drive franchise sales.
- Company: Join one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK, redefining the restaurant industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, share options, hybrid working, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of an ambitious team making a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in sales leadership with a passion for food and innovative thinking.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 110000 £ per year.
💷 £80k - £110k OTE (Basic 80K + Monthly Uncapped Commission)
🚆HYBRID - London Based (Victoria Station) & Remote 1 or 2 days per week with some travel based duties.
WHO ARE WE?
#14 - Fastest Growing UK Tech Company (Sunday Times)
#65 - Fastest Growing UK&I Company (Sifted)
#77 - Fastest Growing Europe Company (Sifted)
Sessions is building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live. The Sessions distribution engine runs through 400+ delivery kitchens and 16 high street restaurants across the UK. Founded in 2020 and led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne, Sessions has grown 7x in three years. Our platform has processed over 5 million orders and reaches 60% of the UK population. Our team brings experience from Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog, and Gousto. We scale brands at a pace that redefines what's possible in food. Examples include Miko's Gyros, which went from launch to 100+ live sites in under two months and SoBe Burger, which is live in over 200 delivery locations and has opened 15 physical high street stores.
🏃♀️ We are Agile - Thrive in fast-pace. We sprint, adapt, and learn.
🌍 We are Ambitious - Contribute to something big. Watch your career grow bigger.
🤪 We are Fun - High performance, high fives. Join a team you'll love.
🤖We are Data-Driven - Turn insights into action. We lead with evidence.
💡We have Initiative - Anticipate problems. Drive the solution.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
As the Head of Commercial for our fast-growing Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) division, you will be the chief architect of our expansion, directly responsible for fuelling the company's growth through creating and delivering the franchise sales strategy for multiple brands including SoBe Burger, Ivan Ramen and future star brands. This is a high-impact leadership role that requires a blend of strategic foresight, sales acumen, and exceptional people management skills. Your primary mandate is to ensure an ambitious, qualified, and diverse pipeline of future franchise openings that aligns with our aggressive expansion goals and brand standards.
You will lead, mentor, and motivate a high-performing team of Development Managers, providing them with the tools, training, and strategic direction necessary to successfully identify, qualify, and close deals with prospective franchise partners. Furthermore, you will take ownership of the entire open pipeline, from initial lead generation and discovery through to final contract execution, ensuring process efficiency and maximising conversion rates. Success in this role will be defined by your ability to develop and execute a comprehensive, scalable franchise sales strategy across multiple headline brands, hitting annual unit growth targets, and establishing robust systems for long-term sustainable development.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Pioneering Growth Strategy: Create, develop, own, and execute the comprehensive sales strategy for the Sessions QSR vertical. This includes leveraging market data, competitive intelligence, and internal performance metrics to identify and prioritise high-potential growth territories and target demographics for new franchise partner acquisition.
- Performance & P&L Accountability: Establish, monitor, and enforce ambitious, data-driven targets across the entire sales pipeline (including prospecting volume, conversion rates, and overall net new franchise launches), ensuring alignment with the QSR P&L and aggressive market penetration goals.
- Cross-Functional Onboarding Excellence: Act as the Executive Sponsor and primary liaison with Operations and Launch Teams to design and enforce a seamless, high-velocity, and scalable new Franchise onboarding pipeline. Proactively resolve systemic bottlenecks to guarantee a "right first time" execution of new launches.
- Franchise Value Maximisation & Retention: Direct and empower Operations teams to holistically monitor and improve operational and financial performance. Maximise partner lifetime value and overall system profitability, and own the strategy to prevent critical partner churn.
- Team Leadership & Capability Building: Recruit, train, mentor and performance manage the QSR team’s Development Managers, growing the team as the business expands.
- Strategic Market Intervention: Collaborate closely with the Growth and Finance functions to define and initiate targeted, high-impact commercial and discounting strategies that accelerate market share capture and optimise the quality and size of the acquired partner base.
- Executive Reporting & Forecasting: Deliver high-stakes monthly and quarterly performance reviews and accurate forward-looking forecasts to the Managing Director and the wider Executive Team (including the COO/CEO), articulating key drivers, strategic risks, and necessary course corrections.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Academic background from a top-tier university
- 3+ years of complex sales/ commercial leadership experience
- Experience growing a foundational team into a fully-fledged business
- Strong commercial and management experience
- Innovative thinker - can build a new model in a new region
- Passion for great food and an entrepreneurial mindset is essential
- Street hustler, prepared to ‘get stuck in’ and do what it takes to close deals and grow revenue
- Prepared to work very hard, take decisions at speed and get things done, comfortable finding order in chaos;
- Strategic thinker - able to elevate the business from the day-to-day where appropriate
- Well-rounded individual able and willing to flex to take ownership where necessary outside of their areas of core responsibility
- Strong commercial acumen with strong negotiation skills
- Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food
- Expert level of English language
- Right to work in the UK
BENEFITS & PERKS
- 💷Financial
Share Options - Receive an amount of share options for Sessions Market Ltd.
Pay day on demand - Access to pay whenever needed
Expense card - Company Card
Finance Platform - Access to 'Mintago', Financial Wellbeing Platform - 🌴Social, Mental & Physical Wellbeing:
Hybrid Working - up to 2 days working remotely per week
Holidays - 25 days + bank holidays + Birthday Off
Healthcare - Healthcare Cash Plan scheme
Employee Assistance Programme - Support for mental health and legal services
Socials - Monthly socials
Dog Friendly - We love our fluffy pals, they're welcome in the office!
Wear what you like - No suits and ties please, that's so 18th century.... - 💻Technology Perks:
Laptop - Apple Mac
Phone - Apple iPhone and company sim provided - 📈 Progression & Development:
High Growth Start Up- This is a great chance to be part of a growing company with plenty of progression opportunities, responsibility from day 1
Be Inspired - Learn from a team that's scaled some of the UK's biggest consumer companies
Membership & Qualifications - Sessions have helped support a number of our employees by providing funds for work-based qualifications and memberships
Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer. All applicants are reviewed 'anonymously' where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view - all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.
Head of Commercial in London employer: Sessions
Sessions is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and agile work environment that fosters growth and innovation in the fast-paced food tech industry. With a hybrid working model based in London, employees enjoy generous benefits including share options, a healthcare cash plan, and ample opportunities for professional development. Join a vibrant team that values fun, collaboration, and a passion for great food, while contributing to a company recognised as one of the fastest-growing in the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Head of Commercial at Sessions!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Sessions or be willing to refer you for that Head of Commercial position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Sessions who’s on the lookout for their next Head of Commercial star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Head of Commercial role at Sessions!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Sessions. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sessions
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Sessions. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
