Interim Commercial Director (Paternity Cover)

Website: https://www.shoreditchdesign.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shoreditch-design/

Contract: Temporary four-month contract, with potential to extend if agreed targets are met and there is a continuing business need.

Dates: January 4th to May 4th

Location: Hybrid, with a minimum of three days per week in our Shoreditch office, including Thursday studio day.

Compensation: Agreed base pay for the four-month contract, plus sales commission and a bonus linked to agreed commercial targets. Amounts and terms to be agreed before appointment.

About Shoreditch Design

We are a creative agency based in the heart of Shoreditch, working across UI, UX, branding, motion and digital experiences for startups, scaleups and global brands. We value collaboration, honest communication, excellent work and people who leave their egos at the door.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced agency commercial leader to step into the founder’s commercial role during a four-month sabbatical. You’ll take ownership of key client and partner relationships, sales closing, pricing and marketing strategy, giving the team a senior decision-maker while the founder is away.

This is a hands-on leadership contract for someone who can build trust quickly, make sound commercial decisions and turn opportunities into profitable work. You’ll inherit existing relationships and a live pipeline, develop new opportunities and work closely with the business development and delivery teams to keep the agency moving.

We already have a 3 person team responsible for business development (PPC/SEO, Design and Sales) that you will lead. You’ll set commercial priorities and work with them on strategy, lead quality and results.

The role would suit a former agency founder, Commercial Director, Managing Director or senior Client Services/New Business Director with more than 10 years in the industry and substantial agency experience.

What you’ll own

• Founder cover and commercial leadership
• Take over the founder’s day-to-day commercial responsibilities following a structured handover.
• Act as the senior commercial contact for clients, prospects, partners and the internal team.
• Make decisions independently within agreed pricing, budget and contract approval limits; establish an escalation route before the sabbatical begins.
• Work with delivery leads to align sales commitments with capacity, scope and quality.
• Keep a clear weekly view of revenue, pipeline, client risks and decisions, without relying on routine founder involvement.
• Existing relationships and account growth
• Build trust with existing clients and maintain continuity while the founder is away.
• Identify and close repeat projects, renewals and opportunities to expand existing accounts.
• Reconnect with past clients, warm contacts and the founder’s existing network.
• Handle senior commercial conversations and resolve relationship issues alongside the delivery team.

Sales closing, proposals and pricing

• Own qualified opportunities from discovery through proposal, negotiation and signed agreement.
• Lead pitches and follow-up, with clear next steps and accountability for closing.
• Shape scope, pricing and commercial terms with delivery leads to protect project margins.
• Review rates, packages and discount requests within agreed authority limits.
• Maintain an accurate CRM and realistic forecast, with a clear handover of won work into delivery.
• Marketing strategy, partnerships and events
• Set a focused four-month marketing strategy tied to the agency’s commercial priorities.
• Direct messaging, case studies and campaigns towards the clients and services most likely to generate profitable work.
• Work with the PPC and SEO hire to align channel activity with sales priorities and review lead quality and conversion.
• Develop referral relationships with complementary agencies, consultancies and other partners.
• Represent Shoreditch Design at relevant events, meetings and industry gatherings.
• Choose partnership and event activity for its commercial potential, then follow through on introductions and opportunities.

What success looks like over four months

• Handover and first two weeks
• Complete the founder handover and introductions to key clients, prospects and partners.
• Review the live pipeline, account opportunities, pricing, delivery capacity and commercial risks.
• Confirm decision-making authority, escalation arrangements and the reporting rhythm.
• Agree a four-month scorecard and compensation targets against the starting pipeline and business priorities.

Months one to three

• Run commercial activity independently, maintaining confidence across clients and the team.
• Progress and close live opportunities, secure repeat work and build a credible forward pipeline.
• Put the agreed marketing, partnership and event priorities into action.
• Review progress against revenue, margin, conversion and account targets each month, adapting activity where needed.

End of month four

• Deliver against the agreed commercial scorecard and document results.
• Leave an accurate pipeline, clear next steps for every active opportunity and a practical account plan for key clients.
• Complete a structured handback to the founder, or agree an extension based on targets achieved and business needs.
• Targets and performance-related pay

The package

It will combine base pay for the contract with sales commission and a target-based performance bonus. The structure will reward profitable sales and continuity of key relationships.

Before appointment, we’ll agree the base pay, commission rate, eligible deals, how inherited opportunities and repeat business are credited, payment triggers and timing, and how cancellations or non-payment are handled. We’ll also agree how any commission due after the contract ends will be paid.

• The commercial scorecard will set numerical targets and measurement rules for:
• New and repeat business won, with agreed revenue and gross margin measures.
• Conversion and progression of qualified opportunities in the inherited and newly generated pipeline.
• Retention and growth of key existing client relationships.
• Qualified opportunities and wins from partners, referrals and events.
• Reliable forecasting, CRM records and an effective handback.
• Targets will reflect the four-month term, sales cycle, starting pipeline and available delivery capacity. Any extension will depend on achievement of the agreed targets, a continuing business need and mutual agreement.

What we’re looking for:

• More than 10 years’ experience in the creative, design or digital industry, including substantial agency experience and senior commercial responsibility.
• A proven record of personally closing agency work, growing existing accounts and protecting margins.
• Confidence leading pricing, scope and contract negotiations with senior clients.
• Experience taking over founder-led relationships and making decisions with limited supervision.
• Strong judgement about which prospects, partnerships and marketing activities deserve time and budget.
• The ability to lead collaboratively across business development, marketing and creative delivery.
• Clear communication, disciplined follow-through and a practical approach to reporting.
• Availability to take ownership for the full four-month contract and support an effective handover and handback.

Working arrangements

This is a temporary four-month contract covering the founder’s sabbatical. Exact dates, time commitment, handover availability and contractual terms will be agreed before the start.

Hybrid working includes a minimum of three days per week in our Shoreditch office and Thursday studio day. The role also includes relevant client meetings, partner meetings and events.

You’ll have a structured handover before the founder steps away, access to the relevant commercial information and systems, and agreed authority to make day-to-day commercial decisions.