The Role The Associate Director of Estates Commercial will provide strategic leadership and end‑to‑end operational management of the University's commercial services portfolio – catering, retail, bars, hospitality, conference & events, venues and delivered catering. They will ensure services are safe, compliant, customer‑centred, and financially sustainable, enhancing the experience of students, staff, visitors and external clients. You Will * Lead the strategic direction of all Operations Commercial services lines, setting a clear vision, service standards, SLA’s and KPI’s that support income growth, customer satisfaction and value for money. * Own the commercial strategy and P&L for catering, retail, bars, conferences & events, venues and delivered catering; deliver agreed revenue, contribution and cash targets. * Develop brand, menu, merchandising and venue strategies aligned to audience needs and the University's values and reputation; lead demand generation for conferencing and venue hire. * Negotiate, procure and manage commercial relationships with our in‑house catering vehicle UMC Ltd., and our partnerships, franchises, supplier frameworks and concession arrangements; ensure robust contract management and performance review. * Lead multimillion‑pound operational budgets and capital programmes for outlets and venues; deliver accurate forecasting, cost control, stock integrity, cash controls and productivity gains. You Will Bring * Extensive senior leadership in complex, multi‑site commercial operations (hospitality, catering, retail, events, venues) with accountability for significant revenue and cost budgets. * Proven delivery of service transformation, brand/offer development, and measurable improvements in financial and customer outcomes. * Advanced financial acumen (forecasting, pricing, margin management, capital appraisal); data‑driven decision‑making; contract negotiation and supplier/partner performance management. * Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation and presentation skills; ability to influence at senior levels internally and externally, including partners and regulators. Why Join Us This is an opportunity to shape the future direction of Estates & Facilities. You will play a pivotal role in delivering transformational change across a major estate, helping to build a digitally enabled, sustainable and high‑performing organisation that supports the University's Manchester 2035 strategy. What will you get in return * Fantastic market‑leading Pension scheme * Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme * Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. * Additional paid closure over the Christmas period. * Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Contact Details:
The University of Manchester Recruitment Team
