Commercial Income Lead

We’re looking for a dynamic, entrepreneurial self-starter to lead and grow commercial income at West Horsley Place. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative thinker with strong sales experience who can spot new opportunities, develop fresh ideas and turn them into successful, income-generating activity from concept through to delivery.

Job Description: Commercial Income Lead

Location: West Horsley Place (hybrid working considered)
Reporting to: Deputy Director
Hours: 0.8 Part Time

Contract: Fixed-term contract (12 months) with the option to extend.

We are open to a range of contract models, including freelance arrangements, annualised hours, job share or alternative part-time structures. Applicants with experience delivering events at a senior level are encouraged to propose a working arrangement that supports effective sales performance and event delivery.

Working pattern: Working hours will be agreed to meet business needs, with regular evening and weekend work required to deliver events
Salary: £35,000 for 0.8 Part Time (£43,750 FTE)

Role purpose

The Commercial Income Lead is a senior, entrepreneurial role responsible for shaping, growing and diversifying West Horsley Place’s commercial income.

This is a highly proactive position for a self-starter who thrives on identifying opportunity, creating new sales channels and turning ideas into deliverable, income-generating activity. The postholder will develop and lead commercial strategy while remaining closely involved in hands-on sales, client management and on-site delivery.

The role oversees a broad portfolio including corporate venue hire, filming and photography, third-party commercial activity and estate partnerships. It also provides strategic oversight of weddings and private events, line-managing the Weddings & Private Events Coordinator who leads day-to-day sales and delivery in that area.

Key responsibilities

Commercial leadership & strategy

• Develop and lead a clear commercial income strategy, aligned with the Trust’s charitable purpose and long-term sustainability.
• Identify, test and launch new sales channels, commercial products and partnerships, taking ideas from concept to implementation.
• Drive income growth by improving yield, diversifying offer and unlocking under-utilised assets across the house and estate.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity, using insight to evolve pricing, positioning and proposition.

Sales & business development

• Personally lead sales activity for corporate hire, filming/location hire and other non-wedding commercial use.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, agents, production companies and partners to generate repeat business and referrals.
• Represent West Horsley Place confidently in commercial negotiations and external relationships.

Planning & delivery

• Act as commercial lead for the planning and on-site delivery of non-wedding hires and events.
• Ensure high standards of delivery, client experience, risk management and operational coordination.
• Work closely with colleagues, contractors and tenants to ensure smooth delivery with minimal impact on public activity.
• Review performance and delivery post-event, embedding learning and continuous improvement.

Filming, traders & partnerships

• Serve as principal contact for filming and location hire, including management of the relationship with the location agency.
• Oversee relationships with regular and seasonal traders and third-party hirers.
• Identify, negotiate and secure commercial partnerships and estate-based opportunities that align with the Trust’s values and character.

Weddings & private events – strategic oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of weddings and private events to ensure alignment with wider commercial objectives.
• Line-manage the Weddings & Private Events Coordinator, setting priorities, supporting development and monitoring performance.
• Enable cross-support between weddings and other events where appropriate, while protecting the coordinator’s primary focus on wedding sales and delivery.

Organisational contribution

• Contribute to Trust-wide planning, commercial thinking and income development.
• Support Trust-led events and fundraising activity as required.
• Champion continuous improvement, new ways of working and a confident commercial culture.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as required.

Person Specification

Attributes

• Warm, welcoming and highly professional manner.
• Confident, proactive and commercially minded.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented and solutions-focused.
• Excellent relationship-builder with the ability to work positively with colleagues, volunteers, trustees, tenants, contractors and external clients.
• Calm under pressure, flexible and adaptable in a busy events environment.

Skills and experience

Essential

• Proven experience in commercial sales, business development or income generation (typically 3+ years).
• Experience of venue hire, events, hospitality or visitor-attraction environments.
• Strong commercial judgement, with a track record of meeting income targets.
• Confident people manager with line management experience.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation and client-handling skills.
• Highly organised, adaptable and calm under pressure.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or small organisation with mixed commercial objectives.
• Knowledge of estate-based commercial models (tenancies, concessions, licences).