Director, Commercial Delivery; Maternity Cover – Association; Financial

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a leading UK financial services membership body to appoint a Director of Commercial Delivery on a 13-month maternity cover.

This is a high-profile, strategic leadership role overseeing a significant commercial portfolio spanning Events, Training, and Commercial Partnerships
—with responsibility for both member value and sustainable revenue delivery
. The experience and expertise to understand and manage the needs of both is a key element of the role.

You will step into a well-established, high-performing function, inheriting a strong team, a defined events programme, and an engaged membership base. The focus is on strategic leadership, direction, and momentum rather than wholesale transformation, with a keen eye throughout on driving strategy, commercial potential, alongside a nuanced understanding of member values and needs.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead a team of c.18 through three experienced Heads of Department (Events, Training, Commercial Partnerships). This is a “leader of leaders” role — providing strategic oversight and drive, team support and escalation across a fast-paced, multi-channel commercial function. A key part of your role is its interrelation to other senior Directors and teams within the organisation (eg marketing, policy, membership etc).

Key aspects include:

• Leading delivery and commercial success across a large-scale portfolio of events, training programmes, and commercial partnerships
• Maintaining and evolving commercial performance, with a clear focus on balancing revenue generation and member value – with an eye to developing and enhancing commercial relationships and opportunities further
• Acting as a senior level support and escalation point for the team, problem‑solving and unblocking delivery challenges
• Owning budgets, pricing, and resource planning across the function
• Strengthening key relationships internally and externally (Directors, members, partners, potential partners, suppliers) – working successfully to drive strategy in partnership with varied internal teams/departments
• Supporting ongoing evolution across areas such as commercial sponsorship, partnerships, and interdepartmental processes and effectiveness (eg marketing)
• Working closely with senior leadership to drive alignment and execution

• Established team of 18 with strong engagement and experienced leadership beneath
• High‑performing environment—pacey, complex, and collaborative
• A role that requires gravitas, judgement, and the ability to take a holistic view

This is not a pure “build” role—success will come from stability, leadership, and targeted enhancement rather than transformation.

We are looking for a credible, commercially minded leader with:

• Experience in a senior leadership position within membership organisations, ideally financial services sector background, or adjacent sectors
• Exposure to events, professional training/learning, commercial partnerships (strength across at least two areas, but ideally all)
• Able to take an holistic view, balancing commercial focus, and member values
• Demonstrable experience of collaborating in knowledge-focused/policy‑led organisations
• Demonstrable experience of managing substantial cost and revenue budgets
• Demonstrable experience of influencing and negotiating at senior levels
• A strong track record of product innovation and maximising commercial opportunities
• Experience of leading, inspiring and developing high performing teams—comfortable leading through Heads of Department
• Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills
• A pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach with a creative eye and the ability to operate at pace

• Visible, impactful leadership role within a hugely respected, highly visible and impactful industry body
• Opportunity to lead an engaged, high‑performing team
• Broad remit across multiple commercial channels
• The chance to make a meaningful impact during a key period
• Excellent remuneration and benefits
• Hybrid working – 2-3 days in London office
• An exciting opportunity working in a highly engaged environment with a great team