Habs has been awarded Independent School of the Year 2025, with Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools receiving both the award for Outstanding Educational Partnerships and the overall top accolade of Independent School of the Year 2025. This national recognition reflects our long-term commitment to social impact and the deep, sustained collaborations we continue to build with our state sector partners. It is an exciting and proud moment to be joining our community.

Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools brings together two exceptional schools on a vibrant, co-educational campus for ambitious and inquisitive pupils aged 4–18. Known for academic excellence and consistently outstanding outcomes, Habs is also on an exciting journey of growth, having recently welcomed Lochinver House School in Potters Bar and St Martin’s School in Northwood into our family of schools. This expansion reflects our long-term ambition to build a group of exceptional schools united by opportunity, innovation and impact.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an outstanding Senior Commercial Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our commercial strategy across the Habs family.

This is a rare opportunity to build and evolve a modern commercial model within a values-led organisation. You will have the scope to think strategically, act decisively, and deliver tangible results—maximising the potential of our estate, strengthening partnerships, and unlocking new income streams.

Blending strategic oversight with hands-on leadership, this role will suit someone who enjoys turning ideas into action and wants to leave a lasting mark.

What You’ll Be Doing

Driving Commercial Growth

• Lead the development and delivery of the Habs commercial strategy
• Grow and optimise commercial lettings to deliver sustainable income
• Identify, develop and launch new revenue-generating opportunities
• Build strong external partnerships aligned with our values and long-term vision
• Evaluate commercial proposals, providing clear, insight-led recommendations
• Track performance, profitability and return on investment across all activities

Procurement & Value Optimisation

• Develop and embed effective procurement frameworks and ways of working
• Manage key supplier relationships across major spend areas (e.g. catering, transport, IT)
• Lead negotiations, contract management and performance reviews
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiencies, smarter spend and shared services
• Stay informed on market trends to drive innovation and value

Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with senior leaders across Finance, Estates, Marketing and Partnerships
• Present insights, opportunities and recommendations to the HESTL Board
• Line manage and develop the Commercial Manager
• Champion a collaborative, commercially minded and forward-thinking culture

About You

You are a commercially minded leader who combines strategic thinking with a strong delivery focus. You are comfortable operating at both a big-picture and hands-on level, and enjoy working in environments where you can shape, influence and build.

We’re particularly interested in candidates who:

• Bring significant experience in commercial operations, procurement, business development or project leadership
• Hold a relevant professional qualification or have equivalent practical experience
• Have a strong track record of delivering income growth, cost savings or commercial improvement
• Think entrepreneurially and can identify opportunities others might miss
• Are confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders
• Take a structured, solutions-focused approach to complex challenges
• Are excited by the opportunity to apply their skills in a purpose-driven, education environment

Why Join Habs?

This is more than a commercial role. It’s an opportunity to apply your expertise in a setting where success is measured not only in financial terms, but in the impact we have on young people and the wider community.

You’ll be joining a high-performing, values-led organisation with the ambition, scale and resources to do something genuinely distinctive.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary of £60,000 to £70,000 a year, commensurate with the candidate’s experience
• Private Pension Scheme through Aegon with generous employer contributions
• Additional life assurance cover
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing confidential support and advice
• Extensive professional development training opportunities
• Discount on school fees for children at any of the Elstree Schools (fee remission set at time of child joining) 
• Free lunch and refreshments
• Free onsite parking and access to travel on the schools extensive coach network
• Free access to state-of-the-art sports facilities including the gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes
• Wellbeing initiatives and programmes, such as yoga, mindfulness sessions, and health checks
• Access to an online GP service, providing quick and convenient healthcare advice
• Access to Vivup, the staff benefits platform, featuring discounts, financial advice, and wellbeing resources
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme and other green travel incentives including Octopus Electric Vehicles

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.