Commercial Director

Compass Group; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering and support services company in the UK is seeking a Commercial Director to lead the commercial strategy for their Education sector. This senior role is focused on delivering innovative commercial solutions, optimizing operations, and influencing stakeholders at a national level. Successful candidates will have proven experience in commercial environments, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage complex relationships. Join us to make significant impacts in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Proven senior experience in commercial, operational or supply chain environments.
• Ability to navigate complexity with a solutions-focused leadership style.
• A track record of delivering cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Joint Business Plan and drive strategic commercial projects.
• Manage and optimize product and vendor performance.
• Identify new purchasing income streams to enhance profitability.

Skills

Strong decision-making skills

Commercial acumen

Analytical ability

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Commercial Director

Location: Mobile / UK-wide

At Foodbuy, our partnership with Compass Group has never been more important. As we continue to tackle the challenges of inflation, sustainability, supply chain resilience and sector growth, we are committed to strengthening the way we collaborate with our Compass sectors - making it easier, faster and more effective to deliver great results together.

We're now looking for an exceptional Commercial Director to lead the commercial agenda for Chartwells, our Education sector, and to play a pivotal role at the heart of the Foodbuy Compass Commercial Management team.

This is a high-impact, senior leadership role suited to a confident commercial operator who thrives in complex environments, can influence at the highest levels, and is passionate about delivering meaningful value across large-scale operations.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Commercial Director, you will sit on the Chartwells Sector Executive Team, taking ownership of the commercial strategy and delivering against a jointly agreed plan that supports the sector's short- and long-term priorities. You will:

1. Lead the Joint Business Plan (JBP)

• Shape and deliver a joint commercial strategy aligned to sector priorities.
• Drive strategic and tactical commercial projects to completion.
• Champion innovation across food, retail and non-food categories.
• Support sector growth through commercial insight and initiatives.

2. Compliance & Optimisation

• Deeply understand the sector operating model to identify commercial improvements.
• Drive product and vendor optimisation to enhance cost efficiency.
• Manage and maximise compliance to achieve agreed KPIs.
• Lead the data and insight agenda to support supply chain and cost improvements.

3. Purchasing Income Opportunities

• Identify and deliver new purchasing income streams.
• Champion key Foodbuy commercial projects from design through to execution.

4. Inflation & Cost Control

• Work closely with Finance to understand projected vs. actual inflation impacts.
• Identify opportunities to manage cost of goods and mitigate inflation.
• Ensure the right tools and collateral are available for effective client engagement.

Ways of Working

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver the full commercial plan.
• Strengthen sector understanding of Foodbuy's value, capability and supply chain.
• Support key sector initiatives including major bids, mobilisations and operational projects.
• Maintain agility in crisis management scenarios and ensure business continuity.
• Represent the sector's priorities within Foodbuy, ensuring clear alignment and collaboration.

You will also have the opportunity to lead UK-wide commercial projects where a coordinated approach across Compass delivers better results.

About You

You’ll bring a combination of strong commercial capability, inspiring leadership and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment. We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven senior experience in commercial, operational or supply chain environments.
• Strong decision-making skills and commercial acumen.
• A resilient, solutions-focused leadership style with the ability to navigate complexity.
• Experience influencing stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives.
• A track record of delivering cross-functional projects and business improvement.
• Excellent analytical ability, using data to shape outcomes and solve problems.
• Exceptional planning skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams.

Leadership Behaviours

• Passion for Quality
• Takes Responsibility
• Embraces Diversity
• Win Through Teamwork
• Shares Success
• A positive, proactive Can Do mindset

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique opportunity to build your career at the centre of the Compass/Foodbuy commercial engine - influencing national strategy, shaping sector-wide impact, and driving meaningful outcomes.

It’s ideal for:

• Compass operators seeking a new challenge and broader strategic exposure
• Compass central colleagues ready for the next step
• Exceptional candidates outside Compass looking to make an impact in a market-leading organisation

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you’re a dynamic commercial leader who thrives in a fast-paced, stakeholder-rich environment - we’d love to hear from you.