Commercial & Operations Director

Commercial & Operations Director

• Senior leadership role in a profitable, founder‑led market research services business
• Own commercial execution, delivery alignment, and team performance across a 12‑person organisation
• Inbound‑led commercial model supported by strong repeat client relationships
• Close partnership with founders and evolving strategic ownership over time
• £80,000‑£90,000 base + bonus + longer‑term incentive potential
• Central London, WeWork style offices, 3 days per week

I’m supporting a specialist market research services business on the hire of a Commercial & Operations Director. This is a senior leadership role for someone who enjoys running the engine of a professional services organisation – leading people, aligning commercial decisions with delivery capability, and bringing structure and clarity as the business continues to scale.

Our client delivers high-quality qualitative and quantitative market research services across 60+ countries, supporting global brands, platforms and agencies. The business operates in a quality‑led, compliance‑driven environment, with growth driven by inbound demand, repeat clients, and reputation. Commercial activity centres on feasibility, scoping, pricing, and delivery alignment.

Reporting directly to the two founders, this is the most senior day‑to‑day commercial and operational role in the business.

In the first 6‑12 months, the focus will be on:

• Leading day‑to‑day commercial and operational execution across the business
• Aligning feasibility and project delivery to ensure consistent, high‑quality outcomes
• Building clarity, structure, and disciplined decision‑making
• Leading, motivating, and performance‑managing a team of c.12

Over time, the role evolves into broader strategic and operational leadership, shaping how the business grows revenue and capability while maintaining quality standards.

This role will resonate with leaders who have:

• Led divisions, regions, or client services functions within market research or professional services
• Overseen both commercial decision‑making and delivery teams in project‑led environments
• Operated successfully in inbound‑led, relationship‑driven growth models
• Enjoyed being the day‑to‑day leader responsible for people, performance, and execution

Importantly, while this is not a sales‑only role, experience in sales or commercial leadership is a strong advantage. As the business continues to scale, future growth will increasingly come from a combination of inbound demand and selective net‑new business activity, including the introduction of a dedicated outbound business development hire.

This role will help shape that evolution, setting the commercial framework, supporting and enabling new business capability, and ensuring growth is aligned with delivery quality and margin discipline.

£80,000‑£90,000 base salary

Bonus

Longer‑term incentive potential aligned to business growth

If you’ve led commercial and operational teams within a market research or services environment and enjoy building clarity and momentum as a business scales, this is well worth a conversation.

Feel free to apply, or DM me and connect.