Commercial Manager

Want to use your commercial expertise to influence outcomes that truly matter? Join us at Compass Community, a values-driven organisation dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people. We’re looking for a Commercial Manager who thrives on challenge, loves data, and can turn insights into meaningful action.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the centre of commercial activity across our Fostering, Residential and Education services. You will help shape pricing, contracts, customer engagement and long-term planning.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• Be at the heart of commercial decision making, influencing pricing strategies, fee reviews and framework submissions.
• Help shape the future of children’s services by providing insights that directly impact care, sustainability and growth.
• Work with passionate colleagues in a collaborative, supportive environment.
• Enjoy hybrid working, flexibility and opportunities for professional development.

What You’ll Do

You’ll work closely with the Commercial Director and the Compass Commercial Team, supporting all childcare services with high-quality analysis, modelling and stakeholder engagement.

Financial Analysis and Modelling

• Develop and maintain financial forecast models including scenario planning and ad hoc analysis.
• Support fee reviews, placement packages, Individual Placement Agreements and Service Level Agreements.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning.
• Lead Excel modelling for annual pricing and fee review cycles.
•  Partner with the Finance team to deliver joint commercial and financial projects.

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key contact for all fee related queries including frameworks and bespoke packages.
• Engage with internal teams to provide expert commercial advice and guidance.
• Support senior leaders in customer engagement, market analysis and local authority meetings.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, social workers and external stakeholders

Tender and Contract Support

• Support high quality and timely tender submissions.
• Review pricing terms and propose new framework fees.
• Support continuous improvement of commercial processes and tools.

Operational Support

• Manage the central Commercial inbox and provide timely, accurate responses.
• Gather and analyse market data to understand local authority demand and trends.
• Produce financial reports and insights that shape operational success.
• Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures and commercial documentation.

Essential

• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrable experience in financial or statistical analysis or modelling.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-focused approach.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a fast paced team.
• High competency using IT systems and management information tools.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Alignment with Compass values including integrity, honesty, reliability and compassion.
• Understanding of public sector procurement and commissioning within fostering, residential or education settings.

Desirable

• Experience in contract management, tenders, business development or project planning.
• Experience analysing trends, interpreting contracts and producing commercial insights.
• Professional qualification such as CA ACCA or CIMA.
• Commercial experience identifying opportunities, negotiating and commissioning new business.

Why Join Us?

• Cashback for various medical appointments & treatments including optical and dental with MediCash.
• Win up to £150 per month in our REACH awards.
• Receive £200 (2 years), £400 (5 years) and £600 (10 years) service awards, plus up to £500 special recognition award for outstanding practice.
• Base of 25 days annual leave, rising to 28 days within 4 years, plus all bank holidays. Additional 2.5 days each year for your birthday, a health and wellbeing day and a half day festive shopping day.
• Life Assurance Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice schemes, including childcare vouchers, technology and cycle to work.

The recruitment process aims to create and maintain a safe workforce and contains robust vetting procedures. The successful applicants will be appointed subject to satisfactory references.

Compass is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.