Commercial Director

In April 2024, the Museum launched it’s new strategy for 2024 – 2027 named, ‘From Challenge to Opportunity – A Path to Financial Sustainability’. This ambitious and growth-focused plan sets a course for the Museum to see it reach an operating breakeven position over the next three years. Income generation is a key component of the Strategy, and the Commercial Director will take ownership of this part of the business plan.

A copy of the strategy can be found here https://rrm.co.uk/2024/04/26/strategy-launch/ 

The Commercial Director will join the SLT and work closely with the Museum Director. Supported by an Executive Assistant and working alongside colleagues from Marketing, Fundraising, Curation, Education and Finance, the Commercial Director will be a vital part of the team that ensures that the Museum hits its strategic objectives.

The full Museum team has eight full-time colleagues, 15 part-time colleagues and over 80 volunteers registered to help the Museum on a day-to-day basis. Alongside the Director, the Commercial Director is the only other Director-level colleague and so there is an expectation that they will help take an overall leadership role in the Museum and bring to life the Strategy for the wider team and visitors.

The Museum is at an exciting time of growth, and we are looking for our new Commercial Director to be able to lead, innovate and deliver.

Where we are:

We are in eyesight of the river and on the edge of the lively town of Henley-on-Thames. The railway station is around five minutes’ walk and there are regular trains to the mainline serving Reading, Didcot, Maidenhead and London (Paddington). There are also buses from Oxford, Reading and High Wycombe. The M4 and M40 motorways are around a half-hour drive away.

Location: Henley-on-Thames. This role will require the Commercial Director to be based in the office at the Museum, with occasional working from home. Occasional travel may be required.

Salary: Circa £65,000 pa.

Reports to: Director

Direct Reports: Operations and Events Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, Facilities Technician, Café (Management of partnership).

Job Specification: The Commercial Director will be responsible for the income generation across the Museum. Specifically, they will focus on both creating and executing the business plan which will see the Museum achieve its stated income and EBITDA targets across admissions, events and retail.

The role will: Ensure that the marketing plan drives the level of ticket sales required from our target market audience, in collaboration with the Director.

Ensure that our shop has a commercially robust business plan at its heart, and is able to provide a contemporary range of products to our visitors. Crucially, they will also be responsible for the launch of our on-line shop.

Lead the creation of a full commercial events program which makes the best possible use of the Museum and it’s facilities, after we have closed to the public for the day. We believe the Museum has an opportunity to capitalise on the local night-time economy and we would welcome the views of perspective candidates as to how they would make best use of this.

Ensure that all the systems with which our visitors interact with, either onsite or via our website, are fit-for-purpose and make the first interactions and visitor journey with the Museum as smooth as possible.

We are looking to work with someone who has a track record of delivery, can juggle multiple priorities at once and is confident in their ability to innovate and refine.

Alongside this commercial activity, the Commercial Director will also line-manage our Facility Technician and ensure that the building and wider facilities are maintained in a suitable way. It is envisaged that this particular responsibility will be shared with the Director given the importance to the successful management of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Income generation in line with the 2024-2024 strategy across:
  • Admissions
  • Retail
  • Events
• Cost management across these areas as agreed in the annual budgeting process.
• Line Management of Front-of-House, Volunteer Coordinator and Facilities Teams.
• Support the Director and Finance Director in the annual budget process and monthly management accounts review.
• Relationship management with our café tenants and partnership working to ensure an excellent catering option for all of our visitors.
• Relationship management with the tenants across our five office studios, located on site.
• Make best use of our IT systems and data, particularly our EPOS, to ensure we have timely, useful and actionable reports across the major income areas.
• Deliver an outstanding service and user experience ensuring we meet the changing needs of visitors and guests.
• Motivate, inspire, and manage our team of highly skilled and committed people, both staff and volunteers, to achieve the Museum’s potential.
• Ensure that a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion runs through all Museum activity.
• Represent the Museum to enhance the charity’s reputation and profile in the UK and internationally.
• Inspire people to support the work of the Museum (whether volunteers, staff or potential donors).

Person specification:

If asked to come to the interview stage, we will ask prospective candidates to demonstrate their experience in the following areas:

Essential:

• Experience of developing and implementing strategic objectives at a senior management level with an entrepreneurial approach.
• Enthusiasm to develop the Museum’s unrealised potential by creating new opportunities outside of the usual Museum delivery model.
• Creative with ability to develop new methods to support the strategy of the Museum in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the Board.
• Understanding of the principles of visitor management and visitor experience.
• Leadership of both direct reports and the wider team.
• Effective communication skills including digital communications.
• Experience of financial and risk management.
• Experience of developing new and maintaining existing partnerships to generate income.

Desirable:

• Senior management and delivery experience at a major visitor attraction or similar.

How to apply: Please send us your CV, together with a covering letter detailing why you suit this role by an email via the button below.

Closing date for applications: We will be accepting applications up to midnight on Friday 31st May. Please ensure that you have included your contact number and email address, as well as any dates when you will not be available for interview. Interviews will take place in June.

All documents should be sent by an email.

We welcome informal visits or discussions about the role – please contact museum@rrm.co.uk to arrange.