Commercial Lead

jlp; Darwen; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Parkinson, part of the John Lewis Partnership, is seeking a senior leader to drive commercial strategy and revenue growth from Darwen, Lancashire. This permanent role places you in the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for financial sustainability, profitability, and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Translate the Partnership plan into local activity, manage the full commercial lifecycle across channels, negotiate supplier partnerships, and lead a diverse team of Partners

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading high-performing sales teams to grow revenue and margins.
• Experience leading customer care teams delivering top-tier end-to-end experiences.
• Experience turning strategic plans into concrete commercial activities.
• Knowledge of Made to Measure (M2M) and Filled Goods markets.
• Ability to lead complex commercial negotiations for high-value agreements.

Responsibilities

• Share accountability for financial sustainability, profitability, and delivery of an outstanding customer experience.
• Translate the Partnership plan into local activities and own short/medium/long-term commercial strategy.
• Drive revenue growth, margins, and market expansion across diverse sales channels.
• Set bold revenue/margin targets and lead high-impact sales initiatives.
• Shape processes ensuring opportunities move from prospect to profitable customer.
• Negotiate and manage supplier partnerships balancing quality, price and reliability.
• Manage supplier terms to sustain long-term, mutual benefit.
• Lead a diverse Partners team to achieve ambitious business plans.

Skills

Sales leadership

Customer care leadership

Strategic planning

M2M market

Negotiation

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

At Herbert Parkinson, a proud and historic part of the John Lewis Partnership, we are embarking on an exciting transformation journey to secure our long-term success. By investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities, streamlining our operations, and creating broader, more fulfilling roles for our Partners, we are building a more sustainable and agile future. Join us as we continue to deliver exceptional quality and service for our customers while empowering our partners to thrive

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will hold a shared accountability for the business unit's financial sustainability, profitability, and operational delivery of an exceptional end-to-end customer experience

With strategic accountability for commercial operations, you will own the full commercial lifecycle-driving revenue growth, margin profitability, and market expansion across diverse sales channels while nurturing key customer partnerships.

You will translate the JL Partnership plan into local, actionable strategy, taking accountability for the critical paths to delivery and engaging your teams to deliver these.

Expected salary - £68,100- £75,000 (Depending on experience)

Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

Location - This role is based at our Herbert Parkinson office in Darwen, Lancashire.

Key responsibilities

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will hold a shared accountability for the business unit's financial sustainability, profitability, and operational delivery of an exceptional end-to-end customer experience.
• You will translate the JL Partnership plan into local, actionable activities. Taking accountability for the short, medium & long term Commercial strategy & the critical paths to delivery; engaging your teams to deliver these
• You will own the full commercial lifecycle to drive revenue growth, margin profitability, and market expansion across diverse sales channels while nurturing key customer partnerships.
• Set bold, ambitious revenue, margin & conversion targets, spearheading high-impact sales strategies to exceed performance expectations
• Shape a robust & repeatable process ensuring every opportunity moves efficiently from prospect to profitable, long-term customer.
• Own the rigorous evaluation and selection of strategic supplier partnerships-balancing uncompromising product quality with competitive pricing to maximise commercial margins and supply chain reliability
• Manage supplier terms & conditions (e.g., payment windows, service level commitments) to ensure the relationship remains sustainable for both parties
• Accountable for bringing commercially viable products to market, ensuring accurate systemic setup.
• Lead and manage a diverse team of Partners across complex commercial operations. Collaborating to set ambitious functional goals to achieve local business plans

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Proven track record of leading high-performing sales team to deliver sustained revenue growth and expanded profit margins
• Proven track record of managing customer care teams that consistently deliver an industry-leading end-to-end customer experience
• Demonstrable experience of developing & translating strategic plans into commercial business activities
• Sound knowledge of Made to measure (M2M) and Filled Goods market
• Proven ability to lead complex commercial negotiations securing high value agreements

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Exposure of working in both Retail & B2B markets (Contracts)
• Extensive knowledge of the textile industry, sourcing and sales
• Large scale project management experience

#LI-EB1

Closing Date:

November 5, 2026

Pay:

£68,100.00 - £102,400.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

38.75 hours Monday to Friday

Job Level:

Partnership Level 6

Where You'll Be Working:

Herbert Parkinson, Harvest Mill, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0HR

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

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