Commercial Director

GDST; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is seeking an exceptional Commercial Director to turn the potential of our brand, assets and intellectual property into sustainable growth. Reporting to the CFO and working with the CEO, you will own the Trust’s commercial strategy and build new ventures, partnerships and income streams across a national family of schools.

You will lead strategic decision-making, develop robust business cases, strengthen lettings, educational programmes and collaborations, and

Job description

EmployerGirls' Day School Trust (GDST)LocationLondon, Greater LondonContract TypePermanentHoursFull TimeContract LengthPermanentSalaryCompetitivePosted6th November 2026Start DateAs Soon As PossibleExpires26th November 2026 09:00 AMContract TypePermanentStart DateAs Soon As PossibleJob ID1583081Start DateAs Soon As PossibleContract Type :PermanentContract Length: PermanentJob ID: 1583081The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is one of the UK’s twenty largest charities and the country’s leading family of girls’ schools. With a gross income of over £350 million, our 24 independent schools and two academies educate 17,000 students across England and Wales, united by a shared purpose: to help girls learn without limits, so that they can go on to lead lives without limits.We are seeking an exceptional Commercial Director to turn the potential of our brand, assets and intellectual property into sustainable, long-term profitable growth. With a clear mandate to own the Trust’s commercial strategy, you will build new ventures and partnerships, diversify our income streams and deliver results that support our educational mission. This is an opportunity to combine business-building with purpose, making a significant contribution to the Trust’s long-term financial sustainability.Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and working closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and schools, you will combine scaling established activities with developing new propositions. Your remit will include strengthening lettings, developing educational programmes and partnerships, realising synergetic commercial opportunities and exploring longer-term international growth. Strategic commercial judgement will be critical; deciding where to focus, building a prioritised pipeline and turning the strongest opportunities into sustainable results.You will bring a proven track record of building profitable revenue streams and turning ideas into successful commercial activities, products or services. Comfortable moving between strategy and hands-on delivery, you will combine sound commercial judgement with the ability to assess opportunities, develop robust business cases and build effective partnerships. You will also be an influential relationship-builder, able to engage senior decision-makers, work across our school leadership teams and bring colleagues with you to deliver tangible results.For a commercially ambitious leader motivated by purpose, this is the opportunity to shape a growth strategy across a national family of schools—and see the results of your work strengthen their future and help girls thrive.How to ApplyIf you share our values and are excited by the opportunity to build profitable growth with lasting educational impact, we would welcome your application.In order to apply, please complete the online application form and submit a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria. Please include the names and addresses of two referees.The closing date for applications is 9am on Thursday 26 November 2026.First-round interviews will take place at GDST Trust Office on 7 and 10 December 2026. Final interviews will be held on 17 December 2026.Our CommitmentThe GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change. We want every colleague to feel valued, respected and supported, and we actively welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.Safeguarding Statement:The Girls’ Day School Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection checks appropriate to the post, including online searches and checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.