Job Description
Overview
Founded in 1902, Ealing Studios is the World’s oldest film studio and a cornerstone of British cinema. Just 16 minutes from central London on the Elizabeth Line, its West London home has been the birthplace of timeless classics from the much-loved Ealing Comedies (The Ladykillers, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob) to cultural milestones like Monty Python, Cathy Come Home, Doctor Who, and modern favourites including Shaun of the Dead, St Trinian’s, The Theory of Everything, Back to Black, Bridget Jones and Downton Abbey.
Ealing Studios is entering a significant growth phase following a multi‑million‑pound transformation. The 4-acre site, the closest studio to London, now offers 36,000 square feet of sounds stages, including a new state‑of‑the‑art 14,000 square feet carbon net‑zero sound stage, 25,000 square feet of premium production facilities, and 25,500 square feet high‑quality office space available for long‑term lease.
We are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to lead on sales strategy and manage client relationships. The Commercial Manager will play a pivotal role in helping to deliver our vision of becoming a world-class boutique studio that attracts leading independent production companies, best-in-class creative talent, and established tenants shaping the future of technology and the arts.
This is a senior, client‑facing role focused on curating and securing premium studio hire, office leasing and events, while nurturing long‑term relationships with leading production companies, creative organisations and technology‑driven tenants.
The successful candidate will be highly personable, a commercially astute operator, have strong negotiation capabilities, and a proven track record of closing high‑value deals.
Role Purpose
To lead and deliver Ealing Studios’ commercial sales strategy, maximising occupancy, utilisation, and long‑term value through high‑quality clients and partners, while maintaining the studio’s reputation for excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Sales Leadership & Business Development
* Own and deliver the sales strategy across studio hire, office leasing, events, and partnerships
* Proactively identify and secure high‑value opportunities with independent production companies, creative businesses, and strategic partners
* Lead commercial negotiations, pricing strategy, and deal structuring to maximise revenue and long‑term value
* Build and manage key client relationships, delivering a consistently positive experience and encouraging repeat business
* Oversee the full sales pipeline, forecasting, and reporting using CRM systems.
* Maintain accurate records of all client interactions, pipeline status, and commercial data in the CRM system.
* Represent Ealing Studios at a senior level across industry events, networks, and negotiations
* Work closely with internal stakeholders to align sales activity with operational capacity and long‑term strategic goals
* Create and deliver compelling sales presentations and proposals. Conduct Recce’s to showcase facilities
Marketing Collaboration
* Collaborate closely where needed with marketing teams (3rd party) to create promotional campaigns
* Provide strategic sales insight to inform targeting, positioning, and campaign priorities
* Ensure alignment between commercial objectives and marketing outputs
* Support marketing‑led initiatives where appropriate (e.g. client engagement events, tours)
Market Intelligence / Business Development
* Monitor market trends, regulatory changes, and competitor activity to understand demand and positioning.
* Gather and analyse insights from industry publications, events, clients, and publicly available data to identify new markets and opportunities.
* Brief leadership regularly on market dynamics and their revenue implication, making recommendations and driving a culture of data-informed decisions
Experience Required
* 5+ years’ industry experience in film, television, media, events or hospitality
* Proven track record in B2B sales with demonstrable revenue growth ideally in film, television, media, events, or premium venue environments
* Demonstrable success in closing high‑value deals, managing key client relationships, delivering consistently positive experiences
* Experience selling premium space, long‑term leases, or production facilities strongly preferred
Skills & Attributes
Commercial & Sales Expertise
* Highly personable, with a natural ability to build and maintain client relationships
* Advanced CRM and pipeline management experience (e.g. HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho and confident working with data)
* Strong written communication – able to produce clear, concise intelligence briefs for senior stakeholders
* Exceptional negotiation and deal‑closing capability
* Strong strategic thinker with commercial acumen
* Proven ability to generate, convert, and retain high‑value clients
* Confident engaging at board, founder, and senior executive level
Leadership & Professional Skills
* Credible, authoritative presence with excellent communication skills
* Highly organised with strong attention to detail and commercial rigour
* Able to operate autonomously while collaborating effectively across teams
* Relationship‑driven, with a long‑term view of partnership value
* Driving a culture of data-informed decisions
* An innovative entrepreneurial attitude with a hands-on mentality focused on driving results
* Customer centric vision
Industry Knowledge
* Strong understanding of the UK film and television landscape and production cycles
* Familiarity with studio operations and creative production environments
* Experience working within premium venues, creative campuses, or office leasing environments is advantageous