Associate Director of Commercial Services
Executive Summary We believe our campus is one of the finest in the country; we have made a heavy investment in making it an exciting and inspiring place in which to study and work. Located in the heart of Leicester, DMU's campus blends the historical and the new, reflecting the great tradition of our home city and its buildings, while creating a legacy. Our buildings and facilities are all within walking distances of each other and only a five-minute walk from the city centre. The centrepiece is the stunning Vijay Patel Building with an open top roof seating area, the new home of our art and design courses. There is also our newly refurbished Campus Centre, home of the De Montfort Students' Union, our striking Hugh Aston building, for business and law, our magnificent 19th- century Hawthorn building for health and life sciences, and many others. DMU is also known for its commitment to employability, innovation, and impactful research. The university integrates real-world experience into its curriculum and has strong links with industry, helping students gain valuable skills for their careers. As the UK’s only United Nations-designated Global Hub for Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), DMU is dedicated to social justice, sustainability, and empowering communities. With a focus on inclusivity, creativity, and academic excellence, DMU continues to shape futures and make a positive difference in society. The AD of Commercial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of the university’s estates commercial portfolio, driving commercial value with targeted growth in revenue and surplus for the University in support of the University’s strategic ambitions. This includes developing and delivering a university-wide commercial strategy aligned with institutional priorities and the Estates Masterplan, maximising income generation, ensuring the efficient delivery of high- quality services, and maintaining a strong focus on student and academic experience. The post holder will act as the university’s lead advisor on all estate’s commercial matters, overseeing accommodation, catering, retail, conferencing, sport and leisure facilities and car parking while driving innovation, financial resilience and sustainability. If you are a commercial leader with a track record of delivering innovation across a comparable diverse and complex estate, we would love to hear from you.
Campus Masterplan
Our new ten-year Campus Masterplan outlines the long-term vision for the development and management of our physical estate. It is a critical strategic enabler for De Montfort University, outlining our long-term vision, aligned to the Empowering University strategy and supporting its delivery across five strategic themes and twenty key focus areas. This agile masterplan provides a clear blueprint to guide future decision‑making enabling the targeted consolidation, investment and development of the estate over the coming decade. It will ensure the university is able to create the necessary physical and virtual environment to successfully position itself to recruit and retain students, deliver a life-changing educational experience, produce globally recognised research and innovation and offers a working environment for staff and collaborating stakeholders that will be empowering, contemporary and of high quality. This accommodates modern working styles and eliminating underused spaces for staff, addresses the need for a more dynamic student learning environment and creates
a collaborative space for our partners and collaborators.
The masterplan supports the opportunities presented by collaborative, shared and multifunctional spaces, fit for purpose to the needs of DMU as well as embracing digital transformation and innovation to create a ‘smart campus’. The masterplan embeds new space principles that will be activated through the use of real-time occupancy data to inform campus planning to deliver a right-sized, spatially efficient campus. As a result, we will see a reduction in dedicated office and generic spaces, reflecting modern, agile working practices; an increase in social student learning spaces, giving our students the contemporary, ‘cyberphysical’ learning environment that they will increasingly expect. And crucially, we will be best positioned to support and progress DMU’s carbon reduction and sustainability commitments. The full masterplan can be viewed here, along with a video explaining some further background.
Governance and Contract Management • Proven influencing and inclusive communication skills positively representing the University’s commercial interests with customers, clients, partners, and stakeholders. • Provide strategic oversight of all estates contracts to ensure value for money, legal compliance, and performance, working in partnership with contract leads. Financial Oversight and Commercial Performance • Work in close partnership with the university’s Procurement team to implement robust governance, contract monitoring, and risk mitigation frameworks. • Ensure effective accommodation contract management, occupancy planning, regulatory compliance, and service quality. Stakeholder and Cross-University Engagement • Develop and maintain an effective commercial reporting system to monitor income, expenditure, and profitability, working with our Finance Business Partner. • Provide regular financial and operational updates to the University Leadership Board, Chief Transformation and Resources Officer, Director of Estates and wider estates directorate. • Identify and mitigate commercial risks through planning, due diligence, and alignment with the university’s broader risk framework.
whilst mitigating risk.
• Develop commercial relationships with suppliers and partners to ensure that the University is well positioned to exploit current and emerging commercial opportunities. Ensure that the University obtains maximum value from its key suppliers and partners. • Collaborate with the Associate Director of Campus Services and Capital Project Officers to ensure commercial planning is integrated with space allocation, development projects, estate usage, and income-generating activities. • Manage and maintain estates commercial income budgets, catering, conferencing, retail, sport and leisure, accommodation, and car parking. • Manage and maintain the operating budgets for accommodation, catering, retail, conferencing, sport and leisure facilities. Operational Oversight • Lead the operational management of estates commercial functions, including accommodation, catering, retail,
Job Description
Job title: Associate Director of Commercial Services Faculty/Directorate: Estates & Facilities Directorate Grade: PSS5 Role profile: Senior Salaried Full time Permanent
conferencing, and sport and leisure facilities. In provision of services to
students ensure high standards of service delivery, continuous improvement, and alignment with the student experience and academic mission. • Provide strategic oversight for the university’s accommodation services provision, including university-managed and nominated halls • Oversee the promotion and commercial utilisation of university facilities, working collaboratively with strategic leads across faculties, professional services, the Students’ Union, and the Events and Marketing teams. • An innovative, commercial and entrepreneurial thinker able to identify new and appropriate revenue opportunities. • Commercial acumen with the skill to shape investment decisions.
Overall purpose of the role The AD of Commercial Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of the university’s estates commercial portfolio, driving commercial value with targeted growth in revenue and surplus for the University in support of the University’s strategic ambitions. This includes developing and delivering a university-wide commercial strategy aligned with institutional priorities and the Estates Masterplan, maximising income generation, ensuring the efficient delivery of high-quality services, and maintaining a strong focus on student and academic experience. The post holder will act as the university’s lead advisor on all estate’s commercial matters, overseeing accommodation, catering, retail, conferencing, sport and leisure facilities and car parking while driving innovation, financial resilience and sustainability.
The post holder will act as the principal adviser on these matters to the Vice Chancellor, Chief Transformation and Resources Officer, Director of Estates, and to the University Leadership Board and Board of Governors. Commercial Strategy and Planning • Create and lead the implementation of a university-wide estates commercial
strategy aligned with the Estates Masterplan and broader university
strategic priorities, focused on income diversification and long-term financial sustainability. • Fostering an entrepreneurial approach identify, launch, and manage a portfolio of estates commercial activities (e.g., accommodation, catering, conferencing, retail, sport and leisure, car parking) that generate sustainable and profitable revenue beyond tuition fees and grants,
Quality, Innovation and Customer Focus • Collaborate across academic and professional services to ensure estates commercial services support university goals and priorities. • Promote a commercially aware culture across the university while maintaining strong working relationships with internal service leads and stakeholders. Leadership and People Management • Collaborate with Registry Services and Library and Student Services and external providers to ensure a seamless student residential experience Regularly monitor and enhance the quality of estates commercial services whilst striving for sector-leading standards and best practice. • Policy and Procedure Development • Embed customer feedback and innovation into service design and delivery. • Lead and develop accommodation, catering, retail, conferencing, sport and leisure facilities, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture. • Champion staff training, development, and engagement to maintain a skilled, empowered, and motivated workforce.
Strategic Leadership and Advisory Role • Develop, maintain, and review estates commercial policies and procedures that support effective, safe, and customer- focused commercial operations. • Ensure clear expectations are established and maintained in line with university compliance requirements and service delivery standards, with particular focus on Health & Safety, Sustainability, Procurement, Finance, Digital & Technology Services, Marketing, Events, and wider governance frameworks. General Responsibilities • Play an active role in the strategic development of the Estates & Facilities Directorate and the delivery of the Estates Masterplan. • Contribute to university-wide initiatives, projects, and working groups, ensuring commercial services align with university transformation. • Act as the principal advisor to the Vice- Chancellor, Chief Transformation and Resources Officer, University Leadership Board, Board of Governors, Director of Estates and wider estates directorate on all matters related to commercial estates services and enterprise. • Perform any other duties commensurate
with the job grade as reasonably required from time to time at the direction of the estate’s directorate. • Role model and act in accordance with the University’s Leadership and Management Standards and Behaviours framework aligned to DMU values: • Collaborative - encourage my team to collaborate and share best practices, set clear and aspirational goals, create outcome-focused work plans, and recognise strengths and support development. • Compassionate - provide honest and constructive feedback, foster a safe and open work environment, deliver difficult decisions with credibility, and act with integrity and transparency. • Creative - create an environment that encourages questioning and idea sharing, minimises bureaucracy, facilitates open discussions about
discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations with particular attention to the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation. • All members of staff are responsible for their contribution to improved environmental performance and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at DMU. It is therefore required that all members of staff are aware of how the Environmental Policy relates to their own role at the university. Staff conduct must reflect the values inherent in the Environmental Policy and where required staff must cooperate with environmental compliance and conformance requirements to help minimise our emissions to air, water and land. • Provide a service that complies with the Equality Act 2010, eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations with particular attention to the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.
mistakes, and involves teams in continuous service improvement.
• Community minded - encourage diverse perspectives, promptly address conflicts and inappropriate behaviours, and foster a culture of mutual respect. • Treat all DMU staff, students, contractors and visitors with dignity and respect. Provide a service that complies with the Equality Act 2010, eliminating unlawful
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills Essential • Strong commercial and business acumen aligned with institutional strategy. • Excellent financial management skills including budgeting and forecasting. • Understanding of customer-focused service delivery in commercial operations. • Knowledge of health and safety legislation and sustainability in commercial estates. • Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion in leadership and service provision. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence at senior levels. • Strategic thinking with analytical, problem-solving, and risk management capability. Desirable • Awareness of commercialisation trends in the Higher Education sector. • Familiarity with university governance structures and reporting requirements. Highly motivated, emotionally intelligent, resilient, and results-driven. • Collaborative, empowering and inclusive leadership style / approach. • Politically astute and credible representative of the university. • Commitment to continuous personal and professional development. • Alignment with DMU’s values: equality, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, empowerment, and student focus. Personal Attributes Essential •
Qualifications and Training Essential • Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience. Desirable • Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., MBA, MSc or equivalent). • Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., IWFM, BIFM, CIH). Proven track record of leading and delivering commercial strategies in large, complex environments. • Experience managing commercial operations (e.g., residential accommodation, catering, conferencing, sport and leisure or equivalent). • Experience Essential • Innovative and entrepreneurial thinker, with demonstrable success in launching income-generating initiatives. • Experience of developing and maintaining excellent commercial relationships and working with multiple partners to achieve success • Experience managing large-scale budgets, monitoring targets and delivering financial sustainability. • The ability to influence and work collaboratively at a senior level, with multiple stakeholders. • Experience managing contracts and ensuring procurement compliance. • Experience leading high-performing teams and promoting continuous improvement. Desirable • Experience within the Higher Education sector or a regulated public sector environment. • Experience with estates capital projects or space planning related to commercial functions.
THE EMPOWERING UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY-MINDED
OUR MISSION
Discovering gateways of opportunity that empower students, staff and our community to create a fairer society.
OUR VISION
Creating a community of participation, fairness and collective responsibility; transforming individual lives and championing a fair and sustainable society.
OUR VALUES
We support each other, we value difference and are honest and compassion- ate towards others. Together we will be courageous in exploring possibilities, breaking down barriers and re-imagining new horizons.
Rewards and Benefits
At DMU, we are committed to creating an environment where our employees enjoy working. We strive to reward and recognise your contributions but also know that you have life beyond work. DMU offers a comprehensive set of rewards, benefits and services staff can take advantage of. Generous annual leave entitlement Senior staff receive 35 days annual leave. In addition to your annual leave entitlement, you’ll also receive statutory bank holidays and extra concessionary days (approximately 13 days each year). Work-life balance working options We offer a range of options to ensure that you benefit from a healthy work-life balance. We offer a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation of 2–3 days per week on campus to support team connection and collaboration . Depending on your role and responsibilities, you have the opportunity to apply for options such as flexible hours (for example, staggered working hours and nine-day fortnights), parental leave, study leave and sabbaticals.
Wellbeing We are committed to continually improving our staff health and wellbeing services so you are empowered to be at your very best at work and beyond. Our Employee Assistance Programme supports staff who could benefit from information or counselling for practical, emotional, financial or health-related challenges. As well as support for a life crisis, it includes advice and guidance for life events such as getting married or moving house, and everyday concerns such as childcare. The free and confidential service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our location DMU’s beautifully landscaped campus is based in the heart of Leicester, giving you easy access to all the shops and facilities of a cosmopolitan city. In contrast to the city centre, the River Soar, which runs alongside campus, and nearby Castle Park offer peaceful and picturesque places you can retreat to.
Our campus offers many places to eat, drink and meet, as well as a range of facilities such as shower rooms and rail ticket machines. We’re also within walking distance of a number of convenient public transport links, the Highcross shopping centre and historic Leicester Market. Our faculties also organise a number of shows and presentations throughout the academic year which staff can to enjoy. Other benefits • Pension scheme – join a pension scheme to help you plan for the future. • Health cash plan – spread the cost of healthcare and claim back money for medical expenses experienced by you or your dependent children. • Annual leave purchase – buy additional days of annual leave through manageable salary deductions. • Cycle to work – make healthier choices and reduce your carbon footprint, plus benefit from tax and national insurance savings on the cost of a new bike and safety accessories. • Lifestyle savings – access a lifestyle and travel discounts website.
• Gym membership – join the QEII Leisure Centre at a discounted price and access a range of facilities, including a 25-metre swimming pool and a climbing wall. • Library membership – access the DMU libraries. • Private healthcare – certain roles at DMU enable you to join the Universities and Colleges Personal Healthcare Scheme at your own expense.
Full details about our rewards and benefits are available on our website.
How to Apply
We are being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG).
To arrange a confidential briefing conversation please contact our advisors:
James Gregory james.gregory@mrgglobal.com
Applications should consist of a comprehensive CV and a covering letter outlining your motivation for applying. Please forward to james.gregory@mrgglobal.com
Closing date for applications is Sunday 7th December 2025.
The panel interview at DMU is scheduled for Wednesday 14th January 2026.
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