Commercial Director | Manchester | Executive Leadership Role | Clear MD Progression
We are seeking an experienced Commercial Director to join a well‑established, growth‑focused manufacturing business based in Manchester. This is a pivotal senior leadership role with a clear mandate: restore momentum, unlock new growth, and help shape the future direction of the business.
This is not simply a sales leadership role. It is a broad commercial leadership position with real influence across the organisation, spanning strategy, culture, and long‑term value creation.
The Opportunity
The Commercial Director will work closely with the CEO as a genuine partner, helping to shape commercial strategy while driving hands‑on delivery. The role has been created with clarity around why it exists, what needs fixing, and what success looks like.
Key focus areas include:
* Owning and delivering the end‑to‑end commercial strategy
* Driving new business growth across existing and emerging markets
* Developing and executing the business development and marketing approach
* Leading pricing strategy, margin optimisation, and customer profitability
* Identifying adjacent and new market opportunities (including food and food packaging)
* Building, leading, and developing a high‑performing commercial team
The commercial model is predominantly transactional, with relatively short sales cycles across many product categories. There will also be opportunities to lead longer sales cycles when introducing new products or entering new markets. A consistent theme across the role is a strong focus on new business acquisition.
What Success Looks Like
In the short to medium term, success will be defined by:
* Returning the business to previous revenue levels
* Delivering an improved and sustainable EBIT position
* Embedding pricing discipline and commercial rigour
* Strengthening customer and product strategy
Beyond this, the role offers a clear progression pathway. Over the next three to five years, there is a genuine opportunity for the Commercial Director to step into a Managing Director position, either through a future exit or as the current MD transitions toward a more Chairman‑style role.
About You
You will be a senior commercial leader with:
* A strong track record of driving revenue growth and winning new business
* Experience operating in manufacturing, packaging, or a related sector
* Credibility to operate at board and SLT level
* A forward‑thinking, outward‑looking mindset, with a natural curiosity for new markets
* Strong commercial acumen across pricing, margin, and profitability
* The ambition to progress into a broader business leadership role in the medium term
You will be commercially sharp, people‑focused, and comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.
Why Join?
* A clearly defined leadership role with real influence
* Direct partnership with the CEO
* The chance to shape the commercial future of the business
* A transparent and realistic route to Managing Director
If you’re looking for a role where you can make a meaningful commercial impact and build toward a broader leadership position, this could be a compelling next step.
Apply via LinkedIn.