Job title: Commercial Development Manager
Salary: PO6 £51,356 - £54,495
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds Market Office, 37-43 New York Street, Leeds, LS2 7DT – Hybrid working is available only one day per week from home.
As the Commercial Development Manager you’ll thrive on leading a team to attract and then support new businesses in the market. You will also be responsible for meeting the income targets set by the service to ensure the market’s long-term sustainability
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Commercial Development Manager, you will bring to the role:
- Experience of leading a team.
- An understanding of data protection issues and confidentiality.
- Experience of planning and organising own workload, working with minimum supervision.
- Ability to communicate effectively and develop excellent working relationships with senior officers, customers, clients and other stakeholders using a range of platforms.
- High level of attention to detail and the ability to achieve time related deadlines.
About the role
As our next Commercial Development Manager, you’ll be part of the senior management team at Leeds Markets. Leeds market is the largest market in Europe, home to over 225 independent businesses and you will play a significant role in ensuring this historic market continues to evolve and grow. You will be responsible for attracting and supporting new businesses to set up business in the market ensuring an exciting and diverse mix of products are available for customers.
Leeds market is an iconic retail destination within the city and has undergone a number of changes through significant investment from Leeds City Council. In recent years an event space and market kitchen was created. We are currently onsite renovating the most historic part of the market with the new units proving to be very popular with businesses. There are even more exciting projects to follow including the proposed STACK development on the outdoor market and the hotel and retail/leisure units development on the George Street side of the market. This really is an exciting time to be joining the team.
It is estimated the market employs over 2000 people and this is your chance to help to build on that figure as you lead the team on attracting new businesses to the market as well as retaining established businesses which in turn will support the wider Leeds economy and the long-term financial sustainability of the market.
Over the past 18 months the market has seen over 30 new businesses open, building on the reputation that Leeds market is the largest retail destination in Leeds for independent business to start up with over 225 now trading with us we hope you can continue to build on this.
The role is integral to our Markets team as you will be the lead, along with the support of your team to oversee the letting of indoor market units, outdoor and district markets, street trading, car boots and market licences generating an income of over £1.4m for the service. As well as working within the senior management team to ensure actions from the markets five-year strategy are undertaken on a timely basis.
The team consist of three senior leaders, events and communications team, facilities management and the commercial development team. As a small team we all work closely together to support each other in our roles as there is lots of crossover working. With our aim to ensure the market is a safe and welcoming space for the people of Leeds. The market plays a pivotal role within the local community welcoming a diverse mix of tenants and customers representative of the cities demographic make-up.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Steven Mason Head of Markets. Call 0113 3789071 or email steven.mason@leeds.gov.uk.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose Oversee and manage the commercial development aspect of the service, specifically to develop and maximise the existing diverse retail offer. The role is office based, at Leeds Market offices with the option to work one day from home.
Responsibilities
- Lead, manage the personal development of the Commercial Development team to ensure the output of the team is effective and efficient and is meeting income targets of over £1.4m per annum.
- Lead on EDI and be aware of and support difference, ensuring equality for all upholding the equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Manage, supervise and carry out appraisals of employees in line with associated policies and procedures
- Lead, Manage all rent reviews and associated work including development and maintenance of mechanisms to ensure rents are reviewed on a timely basis, meeting with tenants to justify and demonstrate evidence of reviews.
- Manage reviews and implement relevant Council Policies and Strategies alongside commercial initiatives leading to the continuous improvement and development of the Market’s Strategy.
- Manage financial procedures in accordance with approved procedures whilst adhering to Financial Regulations and ensuring value for money
- Manage and oversee the implementation of IT systems to streamline and optimise the Service’s work outputs.
- As a member of the senior market management team (MMT) influence, present, provide ideas and solutions to develop and action the short/medium/long term strategic objectives aligned with the markets five-year strategy and corporate plans and ensure its delivery.
- Coordinate consistent and fair implementation of enforcement regulations relating to Markets and Street Trading with regard to regulations, bye laws and legislation, Terms of Agreement and Street Trading Policy and all markets and events operated or licensed by the markets service; to attend court as required.
- Identify business and individuals wishing to start up and/or develop Market trading opportunities and to provide and develop support and advice functions, including overseeing the negotiable terms with incoming tenants.
- Provide advice sessions for existing and potential market businesses and attend market management board meetings to provide strategic update reports for board members.
- Set, achieve and proactively review service targets in order to achieve the objectives of the market service strategy aligned with Departmental and Corporate objectives.
- Oversee and present reports on unit allocations and other related matters and to implement Delegated decisions.
- Work closely with Facilities team to ensure all indoor and outdoor units are fit for purpose and meet current health and safety regulations prior to being occupied by incoming tenants.
- Deal with queries from a wide range of people
- Deputise for Head of Markets and Deputy Market manager as required commensurate to the grade.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications Degree level or equivalent knowledge and experience in the relevant field is essential
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
- Able to and experience of leading and managing a team, planning resources, following procedure and maintaining accurate records and contributing to staff development through appraisal, supervision and training
- Able to and experience of developing constructive working relationships and working in partnership
- Able to and experience of working effectively as part of a team and demonstrating organisational and time management skills prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines
- Able to and experience of managing financial procedures and make recommendations on budget management and financial planning and contribute to the setting of budgets
- Able to and experience of gathering a wide range of very varied and highly complex data and information, accurately entering and retrieving data and information from digital and manual systems preparing and presenting reports and data to a wide range of audiences
- Able to and experience of communicating appropriately and effectively with a wide range of people including internal and external partners, customers and members of the public, through a variety of different methods, influencing views and behaviour.
- Able to use and experience of using initiative to develop solutions to issues and problems to ensure effective delivery of the service
- Able to use and experience of the use of information technology e.g. word, spreadsheet, database, email etc.
- Knowledge of relevant financial regulations to carry out financial transactions
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies with ability to interpret and apply them consistently.
- Understand responsibilities in terms of Health, Safety, Wellbeing, security, confidentiality and data protection
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates
- Understand street trading, market bye laws and market rights.
- Experience of lease/licence agreements
- Experience of attracting new business.
