Director of Commercial Growth and Strategy
Reports to: Managing Director
Direct Reports: 9 Managers
Location: Inverness (with travel as required)
Hours: Full-time
Job Purpose
Our client who is going through an impressive company culture change is looking to add a brand new role within the organisation. The role will provide commercial leadership across sales, purchasing, category management, and retail operations. The Commercial Director will be responsible for shaping and executing a company-wide commercial strategy, developing high-performing teams, and delivering measurable growth across all product categories and customer segments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Commercial Strategy & Business Growth
* Develop and lead the delivery of a commercial strategy aligned with the company’s long-range plan.
* Identify and execute new business opportunities, including new markets, customer segments, and product innovations.
* Lead commercial planning cycles, including pricing, promotion, and product lifecycle decisions.
2. Sales Leadership
* Drive performance across internal/external sales teams, trade counters, and key accounts.
* Set and monitor ambitious sales targets, improving sales conversion and customer retention.
* Lead strategic account development and commercial pipeline management.
3. Retail, Inventory & Category Oversight
* Oversee category managers to optimise range performance and supplier relationships.
* Direct the Retail Director and Inventory Manager to ensure strong in-branch performance, stock availability, and cost efficiency.
* Ensure margin integrity through strong purchasing, pricing, and inventory control.
4. Cross-functional Alignment
* Partner with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and People & Culture to ensure delivery of commercial objectives across the business.
* Provide insights into market trends, competitor analysis, and customer behaviours to support strategic planning.
5. Team Leadership & Development
* Lead and develop direct reports through effective coaching, goal setting, and performance reviews.
* Build a collaborative and accountable commercial culture focused on customer experience, innovation, and growth.
6. Reporting & Commercial Governance
* Oversee accurate sales forecasting, budgeting, and commercial reporting.
* Report monthly to the Managing Director on performance against KPIs, risks, and opportunities.
Key Deliverables
* A fully implemented commercial strategy aligned to business goals.
* Year-on-year revenue and margin growth across key categories and segments.
* Improved stock availability and reduced inventory holding costs.
* Enhanced supplier performance and pricing terms.
* Increased branch and trade counter sales performance.
* High employee engagement and capability within the commercial team.
* Clear cross-departmental alignment with business development, operations, and marketing.
Measures of Success
* Revenue growth (overall and by category/region).
* Gross margin improvement and cost control.
* Customer acquisition and retention metrics.
* Stock turn and availability rates.
* Sales target attainment by team/branch.
* Supplier performance against negotiated terms.
* Forecast accuracy and reporting compliance.
Candidate Profile
Essential
* Proven experience in a senior commercial leadership role within distribution, trade, or B2B environments.
* Strong track record of driving sales performance and commercial growth.
* Deep commercial acumen with the ability to lead across diverse functional areas.
* Strong influencing, coaching, and communication skills.
* In-depth understanding of regional markets and rural customer needs.
Desirable
* Experience in industrial or technical product sectors.
* Background in retail operations or managing multi-location sales environments.
* Familiarity with CRM systems, ERP platforms, and sales analytics tools.