AddressPosition Title: Commercial Development Manager
Reports to: Commercial Director, First Bus South
Location: Reading, Berkshire
Position Summary
The Commercial Development Manager is accountable for the day-to-day management of all income streams across the First South Local Business Unit (LBU). The Commercial Development Manager will research and identify new business opportunities, including new markets, growth areas, emerging trends and potential partnerships. They will also be responsible for overseeing key external relationships including B2B customers and local authorities to drive incremental revenue, deliver high customer experience and retention. The Commercial Development Manager will also collaborate with and support other Commercial functions and teams across the LBU to provide a first-class Commercial function to the business.
The Commercial Development Manager will act with integrity and role model First Bus values and behaviours (‘our way') across their business units and the broader business; and through effective leadership and stakeholder management, they will ensure the needs of local authorities, investors, customers, partners, and colleagues are met.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
- Support the Commercial Director in delivering the customer, revenue and growth strategy for the LBU, ensuring the business realises its market potential.
- Support the First South Senior Leadership Team in budgeting, forecasting, and delivering revenue and passenger growth targets.
- Work alongside the central revenue team to report on revenue and passenger performance and identify growth opportunities within the LBU.
- Be the lead representation on multi-operator ticketing schemes and the development of multi-operator ticketing products.
- Work alongside the central pricing team to manage and refine the pricing and fares strategy for the LBU to optimise yields and drive passenger growth.
- Oversee the management and delivery of BSIP and other funded initiatives with local authority partners.
- Accountable for the ongoing management and development of government funding streams including concessionary fares and BSOG.
- To oversee B2B account management to ensure that every customer is given the necessary support and ensure customer retention.
- Responsible for the collating of information and response to customer tenders, maximising the chance of success in all bids made.
- To lead or support the Commercial Director in the review and renegotiation of customer contracts.
Skills, Experience and Leadership behaviours required
- Demonstrable record of achievements in a commercial and or marketing environment.
- Good intellect with strong analytical insight and financial literacy skills, able to quickly assess viability of commercial opportunities.
- Strong interpersonal skills particularly with external stakeholders and B2B customers.
- Able to challenge the status quo and influence thinking of experienced colleagues resistant to change.
- Ability to engage with and influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Results-driven and strategically focussed, but with a strong ability to get into the detail when necessary.
- Good intellect with an analytical insight and financial literacy to quickly assess viability of business opportunities, with a “can-do” attitude to solving issues.
- Understand risk management, be willing to push boundaries and take calculated risks to deliver long term strategic goals.
- Appreciation of the key challenges facing the public transport sector and its customers is desirable.
- Degree educated, ideally with further post-graduate business qualifications desirable.
Rewards & Benefits
- Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
- We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
- Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
- Cycle to work scheme
- 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
- Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
- Enhanced maternity / paternity pay
- Flexible working
We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.
Please apply now. We look forward to receiving your application.
Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.
