Chief Commercial Officer - EMEA in Manchester

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Manchester - based at UK Management College offices, with responsibilities across UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group Employment Type: Full-time, permanent The Chief Commercial Officer will be based within UKMC's Manchester offices and will provide senior commercial leadership and support across UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group. While the post holder will be operationally based at UKMC, the role has a Group-wide remit and will work across Unibridge Group organisations as required, supporting commercial strategy, revenue growth, market development, partnerships and the development of new and diversified income streams. The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) is UKMC's most senior commercial executive and is responsible for leading the College's commercial strategy, revenue growth and market development. The post holder will provide strategic leadership across market intelligence, brand and marketing, student recruitment, admissions, business development, commercial partnerships, pricing, fee-share arrangements and the development of new and diversified income streams. A key responsibility of the role will be to develop and maintain robust commercial models that support strategic decision-making across UKMC. This will include market sizing, demand forecasting, student recruitment and pipeline modelling, pricing analysis, unit economics, income diversification and scenario planning. The CCO will ensure that commercial growth is measured, evidence-based and aligned with institutional capacity, educational quality, regulatory requirements and student outcomes. The role will work closely with the Group Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Board, shareholders and senior leadership teams. Commercial success must support UKMC's educational mission and long-term sustainability. Revenue or recruitment targets must never take precedence over educational quality, regulatory compliance or the student experience. Commercial Strategy and Leadership Develop, lead and deliver UKMC's commercial strategy in alignment with the College's strategic objectives. Act as the principal commercial adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, shareholders, Board and senior leadership team. Provide clear and evidence-based advice on market opportunities, commercial risks, growth strategies and investment decisions. Establish and maintain commercial policies, pricing governance, approval processes and business case standards. Ensure commercial activity is aligned with institutional capacity, quality standards and regulatory requirements. Lead and sponsor cross-college commercial projects, strategic initiatives and market-entry opportunities. Ensure commercial plans are delivered within agreed timescales, budgets and governance frameworks.Commercial Planning and Modelling Develop, maintain and continuously improve UKMC's commercial models and forecasting capability. Lead market sizing and addressable demand analysis across regions, campuses and programmes. Analyse pricing, fee-share arrangements and commercial contribution by partner, programme and campus. Develop and monitor unit economics, including cost per enquiry, cost per application, cost per enrolment and student lifetime value. Produce rolling commercial forecasts and projections to support short, medium and long-term strategic planning. Undertake scenario and sensitivity analysis relating to recruitment performance, pricing changes, new markets, partnerships and competitive risks. Work closely with the CFO to ensure that commercial models and financial models are fully aligned and reconciled. Ensure a consistent and reliable set of commercial and financial assumptions underpins business plans, Board papers and strategic decisions. Monitor income concentration, partner dependency and market risk. Translate complex commercial analysis into clear and actionable recommendations for senior leaders and the Board.Lead UKMC's commercial approach to revenue growth through student recruitment and admissions. Develop and oversee recruitment strategies, ensuring recruitment targets remain aligned with campus capacity and the ability to deliver a high-quality student experience. Support the delivery of UKMC's Board-approved recruitment baseline of a minimum of 4,500 new entrants per year, within the agreed planning range and assessed institutional capacity. Monitor recruitment performance by campus, programme, intake and recruitment channel. Establish clear commercial KPIs, conversion targets and cost-per-enrolment measures. Ensure appropriate oversight of direct recruitment, community-based recruitment and approved third-party channels. Ensure published information, offers, student terms and commercial communications are accurate and compliant with relevant consumer protection and regulatory requirements. Ensure that commercial targets do not result in students being recruited onto provision that is unsuitable or insufficiently prepared.Contract and commercial training. Professional development and CPD. Appropriate commercial use of UKMC's estate and facilities. Ensure all new commercial opportunities are supported by robust business cases. Work with the CFO and other senior stakeholders to ensure appropriate costing, financial modelling and risk assessment. Monitor new revenue initiatives against approved business cases and performance expectations. Make evidence-based recommendations regarding the continuation, development or closure of underperforming commercial activities. Lead the commercial development and expansion of academic and strategic partnerships. Develop and manage a pipeline of prospective university, awarding body and commercial partners. Lead the commercial elements of partnership due diligence and negotiations. Negotiate fee-share arrangements, payment terms and commercial conditions that support the long-term interests of UKMC. Provide commercial analysis and recommendations for new programmes, subject areas, campuses and modes of delivery. Ensure portfolio expansion is supported by evidence of market demand, sustainable unit economics and sufficient institutional capacity. Support the commercial management and review of existing partnerships. Monitor the commercial performance of partnership agreements, including fee-share arrangements, recruitment performance and renewal opportunities. Work collaboratively with academic and quality leadership, recognising that academic standards and quality assurance remain within the responsibility of the appropriate academic and regulatory functions. Support the commercial evaluation of potential acquisitions, mergers and new institutional opportunities. Work with the CFO and other senior stakeholders on commercial and financial due diligence where appropriate. Develop relationships with employers, civic organisations, funders and other stakeholders that create strategic and commercial opportunities.Market Intelligence, Brand and Marketing Lead UKMC's approach to market intelligence and ensure commercial decisions are informed by robust market evidence. Monitor competitor activity, market demand, demographic trends, policy developments and funding changes affecting the education sector. Develop regional and campus-level market intelligence to support UKMC's growth strategy. Provide strategic leadership for UKMC's brand and marketing activities. Support the development of a credible, distinctive and consistent UKMC brand. Monitor the effectiveness of digital marketing, community engagement and other recruitment channels. Ensure marketing activity is measurable, evidence-based and focused on demonstrable commercial outcomes. Oversee the effective use and development of marketing technology and CRM systems, including MyMACC where applicable. Commission and use market research, applicant research and student perception research to inform commercial strategy. Represent the voice of the market within UKMC's strategic planning.Commercial Governance, Compliance and Risk Ensure commercial activity across UKMC complies with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and internal policies. Ensure compliance with consumer protection requirements, advertising standards, data protection legislation and relevant regulatory obligations. Ensure appropriate commercial controls are in place for contracts, partnerships and commercial commitments. Establish clear approval processes and delegated authority arrangements for commercial decisions. Ensure commercial contracts are appropriately negotiated, approved, documented and maintained. Maintain oversight of commercial risks including market risk, competition, recruitment pipeline risk, partner concentration and reputational risk. Ensure significant commercial risks are identified, assessed and escalated appropriately. Provide clear, accurate and timely commercial reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Board and relevant Committees. Report on commercial performance against agreed plans, forecasts and KPIs. Ensure commercial data is accurate, consistent and aligned with UKMC's agreed evidence base.Build, lead and develop a high-performing commercial function across UKMC. Provide leadership and development to senior colleagues responsible for Marketing, Admissions, Student Recruitment, Business Development and Commercial Partnerships. Establish clear objectives, performance expectations and development plans for commercial leaders. Support succession planning and talent development across key commercial functions. Develop a commercial culture that combines ambition with accountability, transparency and evidence-based decision-making. Ensure commercial forecasts and targets are challenging but realistic and supported by robust assumptions. Champion UKMC's widening participation mission and ensure commercial activity supports the needs of under-served communities. The Chief Commercial Officer will work closely with: Chief Financial Officer. Business Development and Commercial Partnership teams. Employers, funders and commercial partners. The post holder will attend and contribute to Board and senior leadership meetings as required for commercial matters. The role will provide senior oversight and input into Marketing, Admissions, Finance, Audit and Risk Committees where commercial performance, planning or risk is being considered. Significant senior-level commercial leadership experience within a complex organisation. Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering commercial and revenue growth strategies. Experience of leading multiple commercial functions, including marketing, sales, recruitment, admissions, business development or partnerships. Proven experience of developing and using commercial models to support strategic decision-making. Strong experience of market analysis, demand forecasting and commercial planning. Experience of developing pricing strategies, commercial agreements or partnership arrangements. Demonstrable experience of negotiating complex commercial contracts and partnerships. Strong financial literacy and the ability to work effectively with senior finance leaders. Experience of developing business cases and evaluating commercial opportunities. Strong understanding of commercial risk management and governance. Senior commercial leadership experience within higher education, education or another regulated sector. Experience of developing new academic programmes, portfolios or education markets. Strong commercial and strategic judgement. Excellent analytical and financial modelling capability. The ability to interpret complex market, recruitment and financial data. The ability to balance commercial ambition with institutional capacity, quality and regulatory requirements. The ability to identify opportunities while effectively managing commercial risk. The Chief Commercial Officer will be expected to demonstrate and promote the values of UKMC. Act with integrity, honesty and transparency in all commercial activities and relationships. Provide clear and candid advice, including where commercial risks or challenges need to be addressed. Ensure the interests and welfare of students remain central to commercial decision-making. Ensure revenue and recruitment objectives do not take precedence over educational quality, regulatory compliance or the student experience. Promote equality, diversity and inclusion. Work collaboratively across UKMC while respecting governance and regulatory responsibilities. Promote ethical and responsible commercial practice. Support widening participation and UKMC's commitment to serving under-represented and under-served communities. Demonstrate accountability for commercial performance and decision-making. The role may require travel between UKMC campuses, Unibridge Group locations and other locations in line with business requirements. The Chief Commercial Officer will be expected to comply with all relevant UKMC and Unibridge Group policies, procedures, governance requirements and regulatory obligations, as applicable to the role