Head of Commercial
Contact Theatre Closing date: Mon, 08 Jun 2026
- Full time
- £30k-£40k
- Apply now
Fri, 22 May 2026 "> published -
Job Summary
Job Description
SALARY: £ 35,000 per annum
MAIN LOCATION: Contact but may be required to work at other venues as required (Hyrbid)
RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Finance
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Commercial Services Manager
WORKS WITH: All Teams
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 8th June 2026 Midnight
HOURS: Full Time
STATUS: Permanent
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
Contact is a national leader in youth driven theatre, creativity, and social change. The Head of Commercial will drive the organisation's earned income strategy, developing sustainable commercial activity that strengthens Contact's financial resilience while aligning with its artistic and social mission.
This senior role leads the development and delivery of commercial operations including venue hire, bar and caf services, commercial partnerships, and new revenue generating initiatives. It requires a balance of strategic thinking, hands on delivery, and a deep commitment to Contact's values of youth leadership, equity, and community impact.
For full details and to apply please follow the link
Job Requirements
Person specification
Essential
Significant experience in commercial management within the arts, hospitality, events, or creative industries.
Proven track record of growing earned income and delivering profitable commercial operations.
Strong financial literacy, including budgeting, forecasting, and business modelling.
Excellent negotiation, partnership building, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience leading teams and managing operational delivery.
Commitment to Contact's values: youth leadership, equity, creativity, and community impact.
Desirable
Knowledge of Manchester's cultural, commercial, and hospitality landscape.
Experience developing hospitality or retail offers in cultural venues.
Understanding of social enterprise models and youth led business development.
Experience working in a charity or publicly funded arts organisation.
Job Responsibilities
Key responsibilities
Commercial strategy and leadership
Develop and deliver a multi year commercial strategy that grows earned income across all business areas.
Identify new commercial opportunities that complement Contact's artistic and social purpose.
Lead financial modelling, pricing strategies, and business cases for new ventures.
Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to embed commercial thinking across the organisation.
Venue hire, events, and hospitality
Oversee the growth of venue hire, conferencing, and events, ensuring high quality customer experience.
Lead the development of Contact's bar, caf , and hospitality offer, maximising profitability while maintaining accessibility.
Manage relationships with suppliers, contractors, and partners to ensure efficient and cost effective operations.
Partnerships and commercial collaborations
Develop and manage commercial partnerships with businesses, agencies, and creative industries.
Useful Links
Job Overview
- Job Title: Head of Commercial
- Salary: £30k-£40k
- Hours: Full time
- Artform: Charity
- Role: Finance
- Contract: Permanent
- Closing date: Mon, 08 Jun 2026
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Location:
| view on Google MapsNorth West
Job: Head of Commercial
Job: Head of Commercial
Organisation: Contact Theatre
Postcode: M156JA
How to Apply
For full role description and to apply, please click the link
- Contact email: [email protected]
About Contact Theatre
We are the leading national theatre and arts venue to place young people at the decision-making heart of everything.
At Contact, young people aged 11-30 genuinely lead, working alongside staff in deciding the artistic programme, making staff appointments and act as full Board members. The result is an outstanding, diverse and accessible artistic programme for everyone.