At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth strategy for our Quick Service Restaurant division and drive franchise sales.
- Company: Join the fastest growing tech company in the UK, redefining the restaurant industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy share options, flexible working, 25 days holiday, and a dog-friendly office.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with a culture that values diversity and creativity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-growth environment with endless opportunities for personal development.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in sales leadership and a passion for food and innovation.
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 duties.
Who Are We?
Fastest Growing UK Tech Company (Sunday Times) Fastest Growing UK&I Company (Sifted) 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.
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. You will also 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, 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 resolving systemic bottlenecks.
- Franchise Value Maximisation & Retention: Direct and empower Operations teams to monitor and improve operational and financial performance, maximising partner lifetime value and overall system profitability, and owning 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 Growth and Finance 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, articulating key drivers, strategic risks, and necessary course corrections.
Requirements
- Academic background from a top tier university
- 3+ years of complex sales or commercial leadership experience
- Experience growing a foundational team into a fully fledged business
- Strong commercial and management experience
- Innovative thinker - able to build a new model in a new region
- Passion for great food and an entrepreneurial mindset
- 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 day to day where appropriate
- Well rounded individual able and willing to flex to take ownership outside core responsibilities
- 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 CashPlan scheme. Employee Assistance Programme - support for mental health and legal services. Socials - monthly socials. Dog Friendly - we welcome pets in the office. Wear what you like - no suits and ties required.
- Technology Perks: Laptop - Apple Mac. Phone - Apple iPhone and company SIM provided.
- Progression & Development: High Growth Start Up - chance to be part of a growing company with progression opportunities from day one. Be Inspired - learn from a team that has scaled some of the UK's biggest consumer companies. Membership & Qualifications - sessions help support employees with funds for work based qualifications and memberships.
Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer. All applicants are reviewed anonymously; only work experience and education are 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 employer: Sessionsmarket
Sessionsmarket is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that thrives on innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement within the fast-paced QSR sector. Located in the vibrant UK market, our team enjoys a supportive environment that values creativity and efficiency, making it a rewarding place to contribute to the success of over 20 brands.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial
✨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 Sessionsmarket!
✨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 Sessionsmarket 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 Sessionsmarket 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 Sessionsmarket!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial
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 Sessionsmarket. 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 Sessionsmarket
✨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 Sessionsmarket. 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!
