The opportunity

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The Vegan Society is the world’s oldest vegan charity, with a history of impact stretching back to 1944, they exist to make veganism mainstream, accessible and desirable. Their work spans advocacy, policy, education and commercial partnerships – all with the aim of creating a kinder, more sustainable world.

As the organisation enters an exciting new phase, delivering its new three-year rolling strategy, they are now seeking a Senior Commercial Manager. This is a pivotal role, reporting to the Head of Innovation and Development, with responsibility for the effective operational delivery of all commercial activities. These include the globally recognised Vegan Trademark, product and supplement ranges, promotional products and merchandise. The postholder will manage four departmental managers, oversee a team of around 30 staff, and share accountability for a commercial income budget of approximately £4.5m.

The role

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You will

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• Operational Delivery:  Oversee the delivery of all commercial operations, ensuring KPIs, service standards and financial targets are met, while championing exceptional customer and client service experiences. Drive operational excellence through the review and improvement of systems, workflows and service delivery models.
• Leadership and People Management: Lead and coach four managers, embedding a culture of accountability, collaboration and high-performance.
• Financial Management: Accountability for meeting growth, income and expenditure targets in line with budgets, and monitoring and reporting against performance.
• Strategic Support: Support in the development and implementation of the commercial strategy, ensuring alignment with overall organisational strategy and objectives.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Provide clear performance reporting and operational insight to senior leadership, contributing to planning and decision-making.
• General: Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, intellectual property and audit requirements, protecting brand integrity in UK and international markets.

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About you

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You will bring:

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• Significant experience in senior operational or commercial management within a B2B or service-based organisation, with an understanding of CRM systems, workflow management and operational processes.
• A proven track record of leading managers and multi-functional teams to deliver against income targets and KPIs.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience supporting budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Demonstrable success in streamlining operations, improving service quality and driving income growth.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.

While experience of working in a mission-led or not-for-profit organisation would be advantageous, it is not essential. However, motivation by cause and strong alignment with the values and mission of The Vegan Society is essential.

Recruitment process

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You can find the full candidate pack here.

Ellwood Atfield has partnered with The Vegan Society on this appointment. To apply, please submit your CV and supporting statement via the Ellwood Atfield website.

Closing date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
First stage interviews: Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 January 2026(virtual)
Final stage interviews: Monday 23 February 2026 (in person)

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