Holmewood House School
Commercial Director
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Commercial Director
£55,000 – £65,000 (DOE) + performance-related bonus
A new role, a 32-acre estate and a blank page: Holmewood House is an independent prep school of 400+ pupils aged 3–13, set in 32 acres of Kent countryside just outside Tunbridge Wells. A 300-seat theatre with professional capabilities. An indoor pool that's home to a thriving swim school. There are excellent sports facilities, residential accommodation, two professional kitchens, as well as a boarding house relaunched in September 2025 that now sees more than 60% of pupils aged eight and above board full or flexi.
The school is in a strong financial position and has already laid the foundations for commercial income. What it hasn't had, until now, is someone whose entire job is to build on them.
The role
Reporting to the Head and Bursar and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, you'll take on two connected missions:
Commercial: Grow non-fee income from 6% to a minimum of 20% of revenues within five years through high-value, multi-year partnerships, lettings, holiday courses, conferences, residential camps, sponsorship and naming rights.
Fundraising: Create and lead the school's first structured in-house development programme, anchored by the capital campaign for a new pre-prep and innovation centre.
You'll lead the Lettings & Courses Manager, Swim School Manager and theatre staff; build pricing, booking and contract frameworks from scratch; act as the bridge between commercial clients and the estates, catering and housekeeping teams; and report on ROI to SLT and the Board of Governors.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About you
- At least 5 years in business development, partnership development or fundraising
- A proven track record of securing and closing high-value partnerships or major gifts
- Commercially sharp, with real experience of generating income from physical assets and spaces
- A self-starter with the entrepreneurial drive to build a function, not inherit one
- Experience leading and managing a team
- Strong people skills: this is a stakeholder-rich environment where relationships do the heavy lifting
Experience in education, theatre, arts or sport, capital campaign fundraising, UK charity governance or CRM/donor systems would all be welcome, but none of it is essential. We recognise that talent and potential come in many forms, so please don't be deterred if you don't meet every criterion.
What we offer
- Employer pension contributions of 10% for managerial roles
- Private medical insurance
- Potential school fee concession (subject to availability and assessment criteria)
- Free on-site parking, free lunch and refreshments
- 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with occasional evening, weekend and travel commitments. The role is school-based, but we're open to discussing flexible working so please do mention it in your application.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
A word from the Head
Ruth O'Sullivan is clear about what she's looking for: a playmaker rather than someone who waits for direction. Bring her ideas and challenges and expect robust professional debate — and her genuine backing. The governing body is fully behind this appointment and sees it as pivotal to the school's future.
How to apply
For a confidential initial discussion, please send an up-to-date CV and book an introductory call with Alpha Parish at Academicis, our retained search consultants: aparish@academicis.co.uk | 01223 907979 | 07436 971517
Closing date: 25 September 2026. Interviews will be arranged ad hoc on receipt of a credible application, so early applications are encouraged.
Holmewood House is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children, and all staff, volunteers and third parties are expected to share this commitment. The school follows a rigorous safer recruitment process. All applicants must be willing to undergo vetting checks appropriate to the post, including references from past employers and an enhanced DBS check.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills