Job title
Commercial Manager, 750 Motor Club
Location
Club office in Midlands (exact location tbc) but with regular travel required to circuits, partners, MSA, etc).
Role synopsis
The 750 Motor Club is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to bring together motoring enthusiasts and provide them with a platform for their shared passion and to provide motoring competitions with a particular focus on circuit racing. The club has a current membership of around 1400 and runs race meetings for its 14 championships or series at all major race circuits in the UK and, dependent on demand, will organise circa 20 race days per year during the season (typically March-October). In addition, the club organises and promotes events and gatherings for members including Austin A7 events, trials and centre based social events.
The club aims to be the leading provider of truly accessible motorsport in the UK, with an emphasis on good value, enjoyable, family oriented motorsport. It is currently one of the largest race organisers in the country with a turnover of around £1million and is governed by a board of directors made up of volunteer club members.
To deliver on its aims, the club employs a small team of 2 full time staff (namely an Events & Marketing Manager and an Administration Assistant) as well as this role. The Commercial Manager is the senior role with primary accountability for the strategic & commercial development and growth of the club.
Strategic & Business Development: This role provides the club with its primary method of implementing strategy – that means the Commercial Manager works with the board to define where it wants to get to, and then advises how to get there and gets on and does it. This will include growing participation in the club’s Championships and Series as well as all our non-racing activities and instigating & growing new income streams, advertising, sponsorship & regalia revenues.
Operational: The role holder is ultimately accountable for growing both membership and membership satisfaction. A key part of this will be ensuring the smooth & cost effective running of the club’s activities and events, whether racing or non-racing. The 2 primary elements will be:
- continuously optimising the long term financial performance of the club to ensure all activities are delivered at the lowest overall but sustainable cost to members, while
- protecting & developing the “club” environment that ensures every event is a great evening, day or weekend away with family and friends.
The role reports to the Board through a nominated Board member to ensure clear communication as well as support for the role holder.
It is primarily a hands-on, delivery role, with a small but important team leadership element to ensure cohesion and alignment within the team. Success in the role will be primarily measured by meeting objectives with performance indicators focused on these and other objectives as defined by the board:
- Growing Membership & membership satisfaction across centres, heritage activities and race championships
- Developing new activities & revenue streams to ensure low cost services to our members
- Healthy race meetings: strong meeting margins with entry fees below the competition
- Healthy championships: sustained & growing registrations in current championships, development of innovative new championships. Total cost of competing below the competition based on sensible championship regs. Driver satisfaction.
Key accountabilities
See club activity map for details
Annual Planning:
Preparation of overall club annual budget working closely with the Finance Director & Board.
Preparation of annual activity plans working closely with appropriate Directors and members through their sub committees.
Preparation, optimisation & ensuring approvals for existing championships such that they are continually refreshed and stay healthyv
Preparation and ensuring approvals for new championships to provide growth
Definition of race calendar with circuits to meet both budget and race objectives
Preparation, optimisation & approval of race meeting plans to meet both member, budget and championship requirements
Business Development:
Developing and leading implementation of plans to ensure growth of:
- New income streams & new areas of growth
- New championships
- New members and new race drivers across both new & existing championships
- Sponsorship, regalia, advertising income
- Non racing activities – both centre based and Motorsport Heritage based.
Procurement:
Negotiation & contracting of circuit hire – our biggest expense
Negotiation, contracting and supplier performance management for major service and product suppliers
Development of strategic partnerships to ensure win-win relationships with key partners
Leadership:
Performance management against all agreed financial (see below) and non-financial measures.
Supervision & support for the E&M Manager and the Admin Assistant.
Although the E&M Manager will attend & manage all race meetings, the Commercial Manager will need to attend sufficient race, A7 and other club events to ensure execution of the role, meeting of performance targets and support for the team.
Finance:
Ensuring each race meeting and all non-race activities are optimised to deliver high value for members, in terms of both total cost of participation and enjoyment
Ensuring cost, revenue and margin budgets are transparent, agreed with the board, measured, met and reported regularly across all club activities.
Essential criteria & qualifications
In depth experience of motorsport activities
Demonstrated strength in organisational & planning skills
Strong procurement & negotiation skills
A self-starter with demonstrated ability to build relationships and partnerships as well as to motivate and lead a wide variety of people, often volunteers
A business brain with a track record of successful business development; able to anticipate trends and take ideas right through from "idea to implementation".
Desirable criteria & qualifications
Strong IT skills
A customer service bias
An understanding of the technical side of motorsport
Project management expertise
Travel required
Involves travel across UK and includes regular personal attendance of race meetings & events at weekends.
Terms & Applications
Part time role (3 days per week) with salary in region of £25k/yr. Involves travel across UK in own vehicle with mileage payment. Use of club vehicles may be required. Weekend attendance of events will be required from time to time. Holidays of 20 days per year pro-rated. Pension contribution after 1 year’s service.
Any interested applicants or any club members who know of any potential applicants, please forward a cover letter and CV to Colin Chapman at: Colin.Chapman@750mc.co.uk by January 16th 2012