Market Manager

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council; Bradford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Bradford District is seeking a Markets Manager to lead its diverse markets portfolio across multiple sites, driving commercial growth and high-profile capital projects. You will oversee up to 40 staff, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure initiatives reflect Bradford’s communities.

The role requires strategic vision, public-sector experience, and strong governance. This is a full-time position in Bradford District's Environment Directorate – Sport & Leisure Services with engagement

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing a large, commercially focused operation.
• Degree-level qualification (or substantial senior management experience) with political awareness.
• Experience leading multi-site operations, managing contracts, delivering major capital projects, and ensuring compliance.
• Outstanding negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Take accountability for a multi-site markets portfolio and drive income growth.
• Lead strategic capital improvement programmes and coordinate with procurement and finance.
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team across sites up to 40 staff.
• Collaborate with elected members, traders, and stakeholders to align with wider city plans.
• Champion diversity, accessibility, and local enterprise in market operations.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Strategic Vision

Operational Mastery

Exceptional Communication

Education

Degree-level qualification or substantial senior management experience

Job description

Shape the Heart of Bradford’s Economy: Markets Manager

Salary: £55,146 - £59,419 Location: Bradford District (Environment Directorate – Sport & Leisure Services) Contract: Full-Time

Be Bold. Be Brilliant. Be the Driving Force Behind Bradford’s Markets. Bradford District is a place of immense energy, rich heritage, and boundless ambition. As we look ahead to a prosperous future, our vibrant ecosystem of covered, open, wholesale, and specialist event markets remains at the beating heart of our communities. We are looking for a dynamic, commercially astute, and visionary Markets Manager to lead our diverse markets portfolio into its next chapter. Operating within a £2.4m expenditure and £2.9m income footprint, you won't just manage day-to-day operations you will champion economic growth, drive high-profile capital projects, and foster a culture of enterprise that reflects Bradford’s unique character.

What You’ll Do

• Drive Commercial Excellence: Take full accountability for a multi-million-pound commercial portfolio, optimising income streams, managing budgets, and exploring innovative retail and leisure uses to future-proof our assets.
• Deliver Transformational Projects: Lead strategic capital improvement programmes, working closely with procurement and finance teams to modernize our market infrastructure.
• Empower People: Lead, motivate, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of up to 40 staff across multiple sites, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in collaboration and accountability.
• Champion Diversity & Community Cohesion: Ensure our markets remain welcoming, accessible, and deeply reflective of Bradford’s diverse communities, supporting local enterprise at every level.
• Build Powerful Partnerships: Collaborate seamlessly with elected members, traders, regional businesses, and key stakeholders to align market operations with our wider City Centre Plan, Cultural Strategy, and Economic Strategy.

What You’ll Bring

• Commercial Acumen: Minimum 5 years of experience managing a large, commercially focused operation, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and managing significant budgets.
• Strategic Vision: A degree-level qualification (or substantial senior management experience) backed by political awareness and the ability to operate effectively within a complex public sector environment.
• Operational Mastery: Expertise in leading multi-site operations, managing contracts, delivering major capital projects, and ensuring strict regulatory and health & safety compliance.
• Exceptional Communication: Outstanding negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the confidence to present high-level reports and strategic options to committees, boards, and senior leaders.

Why Bradford? Bradford District is bold, brilliant, and balanced. We offer a collaborative working environment where your strategic ideas can directly transform local communities and boost economic vitality. If you have the energy, leadership, and commercial mindset to elevate our markets to new heights, we want to hear from you.

Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 1st November 2026

Timeline*Closing Date: 1st November 2026 Shortlisting: w/c 2nd November 2026 Interviews: 17th November 2026 *Note - depending upon number of applications the dates could change