Commercial Director; Executive Board

Location:

Ideally Midlands, London or Bristol, with a minimum of two days per week at a Make UK location and regular travel

Competitive salaries and excellent benefits including up to one day’s paid leave each year to undertake volunteering opportunities

The Manufacturers’ Organisation | Make UK

At Make UK, we represent and champion the interests of UK manufacturing, supporting businesses through a broad range of commercial services, expertise and partnerships. We’re now looking for an exceptional Commercial Director to join our Executive Board and lead the next phase of our commercial growth.

This is a high-profile leadership role with real scope to make an impact. You’ll be responsible for shaping and delivering Make UK’s commercial growth strategy, bringing together Business Development, Key Accounts and Marketing, while working closely with leaders across our HR & Legal, HR Consultancy, Environment, Health & Safety, Membership, Partnerships & Events and wider Make Group businesses.

We want to build a more commercially confident, collaborative and client-focused organisation – breaking down silos, strengthening relationships, creating more opportunities to cross-sell and ensuring our clients experience the full value of Make UK.

The role

Reporting to the
Chief Financial Officer
and sitting on the Executive Board, you’ll provide strategic commercial leadership while remaining close to the day-to-day realities of business development and client relationships.

You’ll lead our
Key Account Directors, Key Account Managers and Business Development teams
, creating a consistent and disciplined approach to pipeline development, account management and growth. Alongside this, you’ll provide strategic leadership to Marketing, ensuring campaigns, events, thought leadership and digital activity are closely aligned to our commercial priorities.

You’ll work across the organisation to encourage collaboration, create stronger internal referral routes and ensure our teams are confident in identifying opportunities and having meaningful commercial conversations with clients.

• Develop and deliver Make UK’s
  commercial growth strategy
  across our commercial businesses.
• Lead and develop the Business Development and Key Account functions, driving accountability, focus and commercial discipline.
• Develop strategic account management and pipeline growth, increasing retention, cross‑selling and client value.
• Lead the Marketing function and align its activity with wider commercial objectives.
• Work closely with Business Unit Heads to identify and develop new growth opportunities.
• Build a more commercially aware and BD-confident culture across Make UK.
• Break down organisational silos and create a genuinely
  One Team
  approach to client development.
• Build strong relationships with senior clients, prospects and strategic partners.
• Support major bids, pitches and strategic account opportunities.
• Represent Make UK externally through networking, events, speaking opportunities and thought leadership.
• Introduce meaningful commercial reporting, KPIs and measurement frameworks.
• Work closely with Finance to strengthen forecasting and revenue visibility.
• Coach and influence colleagues at all levels, helping develop stronger relationship‑building and client engagement skills.

About you

We’re looking for an experienced commercial leader who combines
strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach
. You’ll have a strong track record of leading commercial, business development or client relationship teams and will be comfortable operating at Executive Board level while remaining close to clients, teams and opportunities.

You’ll ideally bring experience within the
legal, HR, employment, advisory or professional services environment
, with a strong understanding of relationship‑led B2B services.

Crucially, you’ll also have
in‑house experience within a corporate or blue‑chip organisation
and understand how to influence key accounts, embed best practice and build commercial capability internally. You’ll have be credible, visible and approachable, with the ability to influence senior leaders and operational teams alike.

• Collaborative and relationship‑led
• Comme…