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Commercial Director
Location: Rishworth, Halifax, HX6 4QA
Salary: £67,000 - £80,000 per annum
The School is a forward thinking and innovative UK day and boarding school that retains traditional values. They are an independent school with the freedom to offer an educational experience personalised to each child’s needs.
Set in the heart of West Yorkshire the School has occupied magnificent buildings in 140 acres of beautiful countryside for the last 300 years.
The Role
This is an exciting newly created role, designed to work closely with the Head of School. This is an opportunity for a driven individual to play an integral part in the Senior Leadership Team. The successful candidate will be fundamental in building and delivering the School Development Plan and implementing strategies which align with the school’s ethos and values. The successful candidate will have responsibility for finance, marketing, operations, risk management and compliance.
They are looking for an authentic leader, capable of managing and motivating their teams and engaging with an extensive stakeholder group to increase the commercial value of the school. As a key custodian of Rishworth School, you will instinctively protect and maintain its values and be respectful of the history by embodying the school values; curiosity, individuality, kindness and valour and by adhering to the school motto; Res Non Verba. They are open to applications from individuals with a wide range of experience, either within or outside the education sector.
The individual will be a thought partner for the School’s Head, bringing a strategic financial perspective to the table, and will have responsibility for the school’s financial operations, marketing strategy and day to day operations and compliance.
The Commercial Director will play a key role in the ambition they have to continue to invest the school and to attract both new local and international students.
This is very much an all-round post for a qualified professional, offering a rewarding variety of challenges.
Key Responsibilities:
Senior Leadership Team
* be ultimately responsible for all business support staff, made up of 60 individuals.
* actively engage in whole school decision making through SLT meetings, review and contribution of the School Development Plan (SDP) to ensure that Rishworth School deliver a quality experience for their students, parents and key stakeholders whilst ensuring that the school is a financially viable and stable entity
* attend Governing Body meetings, presenting and being answerable to key performance indicators
Revenue Streams
* undertake a strategic review of the school’s large asset base, and how new facilities can be developed
* lead, develop and oversee the commercial revenue streams
* increase return from existing revenue streams, especially use of the school facilities for lettings and events
* develop new revenue streams through exploration of each opportunity, building the business and financial case for further consideration and approval, including developing school online retail opportunities
* work collaboratively with various teams to ensure the successful delivery of their commercial initiatives, including with external advisors
* establish strong relationships with commercial partners to initiate and deliver commercial activities
* capitalisation of fundraising opportunities
Finance
* be responsible for the school’s 3 year financial forecasts and strategy, and detailed annual budgets
* advise and lead on financial policy, investment (in consultation with brokers) and taxation matters, in line with the charitable status of the school
* sit as an active member of the Finance Sub-Committee and Asset Working Party
* keep the capital expenditure register up to date and be responsible for asset management
* act as the financial leader in the school and manage the Finance Team
Marketing & Admissions (M&A)
* sit as an active member on the Marketing and Admissions Sub-Committee
* ensure that M&A capitalise on revenue opportunities to increase student roll in both day and boarding numbers
* overseeing the Marketing Lead who manages the marketing and admissions team and external agencies
Human Resources (HR)
* act as adviser or officer for staff discipline, capability or grievance matters and ensuring relevant policies are appropriate and adhered to
* conduct annual appraisals and target setting of Business Support staff, either directly or via the appropriate Head of Department
* secure HR policies, management systems and expertise in personnel to ensure compliance
Skills and Qualifications
Essential:
Proven ability to guide a project from concept to completion
A track record of successful leadership
Experience of working within high demand environments to meet targets
Professional Qualifications relevant to role
GCSE grade C or above in Mathematics and English
Relevant professional updating and CPD evidence to date
Right to work in the UK
Competence in standard office software, MIS systems, databases and accounting software
Desirable:
A track record of commercial income generation
Competence in the use of MIS systems, databases and accounting software
Membership of relevant professional bodies
Full UK Driving Licence
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable School, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application