Commercial Director

Hospitality, F&B & Catering

London

We are partnering with an ambitious, fast-growing hospitality and food & beverage group to appoint a Commercial Director who will lead new business development and help drive the next phase of growth. Operating across hospitality, events and catering, the business has an established premium offering and an exciting expansion strategy across the UK and international markets. This is a newly developing opportunity for a commercially driven individual who knows how to open doors, build relationships and win significant F&B and hospitality contracts.

The role:

Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will take ownership of developing and converting a strong pipeline of new commercial opportunities. You will identify target clients and sectors, build relationships with key decision makers and lead opportunities through the full business development lifecycle, from initial introduction and qualification through to proposals, pitches, tenders and contract negotiations.

• Developing and executing the commercial and new business strategy
• Identifying and securing significant hospitality, F&B, catering and related contracts
• Building a high quality pipeline of short, medium and long-term opportunities
• Opening doors and developing relationships with senior decision-makers, consultants and industry partners
• Leading pitches, tenders and competitive bid processes from initial opportunity through to contract award
• Working with operational, culinary, finance and senior leadership teams to develop compelling commercial propositions
• Understanding client requirements and translating them into commercially attractive hospitality solutions
• Developing strategic partnerships and routes into new clients and markets
• Negotiating commercial terms and supporting the transition of new contracts into operations
• Bringing market intelligence, competitor insight and a strong understanding of where future opportunities exist

Experience:

We are looking for an established commercial leader with a strong track record of winning new business within premium hospitality, contract catering and F&B

• You will understand how larger hospitality contracts are won, including stakeholder engagement, consultant relationships, tender processes, commercial modelling, presentations and negotiations
• Significant commercial, business development or sales experience within hospitality, F&B or contract catering
• A demonstrable track record of winning substantial new contracts
• Strong knowledge of the end-to-end tender, bid and procurement process
• An established network across the hospitality, consulting and/or contract catering landscape
• The credibility to build relationships with senior clients and decision-makers
• Experience developing and managing a meaningful new business pipeline
• A commercial mindset combined with a genuine understanding of hospitality operations
• Experience working within a premium, high quality or experience led environment
• The ability to operate entrepreneurially within a fast moving and rapidly growing business