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- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and ensure operational excellence across the Group.
- Company: Join Thomas Franks, a fresh food catering business focused on excellence and individuality.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, free meals, enhanced leave, and excellent career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in contract catering or foodservice is essential.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Our head offices are based in the beautiful village of Hook Norton near Banbury. Here you will find our teams of finance, HR, purchasing, marketing & creative that support all of our locations across the Thomas Franks family. There is ample parking space available when visiting.
The Commercial Director works closely with legal counsel to safeguard and enhance the financial and qualitative performance of operations, working in partnership with the Managing Director of each business area. The role ensures commercial integrity, contractual compliance, and operational excellence across the Group, while supporting key functions such as purchasing, compliance, and mobilisation to ensure sustainable growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES- Operational & Financial Success
- Ensure each operational area achieves its financial targets, including revenue, margin, labour efficiency, and cost control.
- Partner with Managing Directors to analyse performance, identify risks, and implement improvement plans.
- Strengthen qualitative outcomes by aligning commercial decisions with service standards, food quality, and client expectations.
- Provide commercial insight to support operational planning and productivity initiatives.
- Compliance, Contracts & Purchasing
- Oversee compliance across all commercial activities, ensuring adherence to internal policies, client requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Drive the purchasing strategy to secure competitive pricing, supplier reliability, and category innovation.
- Work closely with legal counsel to review, negotiate, and finalise client contracts, supplier agreements, and commercial terms.
- Ensure all contracts are commercially sound, operationally deliverable, and aligned with risk management frameworks.
- Mobilisation Leadership
- Manage the mobilisation team responsible for launching new contracts.
- Ensure mobilisations are delivered on time, within budget and contract, and to agreed quality standards.
- Oversee mobilisation planning, resource allocation, and cross functional coordination with operations, HR, finance, and culinary teams.
- Establish clear mobilisation KPIs and reporting to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
- Commercial Strategy & Business Support
- Support Managing Directors with commercial planning, forecasting, and strategic decision making.
- Evaluate commercial opportunities, pricing structures, and contract variations to maximise long term value.
- Provide leadership guidance on tender responses, ensuring solutions are financially robust and operationally feasible.
- Drive consistency in commercial processes, tools, and governance across all business units.
- Leadership & Collaboration
- Support teams across commercial analysis, purchasing, compliance, and mobilisation.
- Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and partnership with operational leaders.
- Act as a senior commercial advisor to the executive team, contributing to long term business planning.
- Senior commercial leadership experience within contract catering, foodservice, or facilities management.
- Strong financial acumen with proven success in improving operational profitability.
- Experience managing compliance, purchasing, and contract negotiation.
- Demonstrated ability to lead mobilisations and cross functional project teams.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to influence at senior levels while supporting operational leaders.
- Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
- Free meals on duty.
- Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Recommend a friend bonus.
- Unrivalled individual training and development.
- Well established apprenticeship programme.
- Team & company social events.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Workplace pension.
- Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.
About us: Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role. An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.
Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks: We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.
Group Commercial Director in Banbury employer: Thomas Franks Ltd.
Contact Detail:
Thomas Franks Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Commercial Director in Banbury
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges they face. This way, when you walk into that interview, you’ll be ready to show how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. We can’t stress enough how being well-prepared can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Commercial Director in Banbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in commercial leadership, especially in contract catering or foodservice. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve improved operational profitability or led successful mobilisations. We love seeing quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thomas Franks Ltd.
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Group Commercial Director, you'll need to demonstrate strong financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the role, such as revenue targets and cost control measures. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully improved operational profitability in your previous roles.
✨Understand Compliance Inside Out
Compliance is crucial in this position. Familiarise yourself with the regulatory standards and internal policies that govern commercial activities. During the interview, be ready to share examples of how you've ensured compliance in past projects and how you would approach it in this new role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership and collaboration skills. Think of specific instances where you've led cross-functional teams or managed mobilisations. Highlight your ability to foster a culture of accountability and transparency, as well as how you've influenced senior stakeholders in your previous positions.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare to discuss how you would handle challenges related to contract negotiations or operational planning. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
