VP, Commercial Strategy & Growth

Building a Brand Starts with a Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content Creative Digital Technology Management & Delivery and Data & Insights services. For 30 years we have utilized three flexible delivery models: Embedded teams Corporate Campus operations and a Full-Service Agency.

Managing over 37000 events & projects annually across 110 countries FIRST serves 130 brands specializing in Fortune 500 companies within the Financial Services Technology Healthcare Media and Professional Services sectors. FIRST is part of the broader Encore family of companies. Encore is a global leader in event production and technology.

Consistently recognized for excellence recent honors include 2026 Chief Marketer Agency of the Year the Ad Net Zero Award for sustainability and more.

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What You Would Get To Do

The VP Commercial Strategy & Growth is responsible for driving our profitability through the commercial function which includes evolving our pricing models and governance across the business.

Working closely with executive leadership the role translates business growth objectives into actionable commercial plans aligning Client Services Business Development Marketing Finance Operations and Data & Analytics to deliver increased margins. The VP Commercial Strategy & Growth leads the optimisation of pricing deal structures forecasting and commercial performance across new and existing clients while ensuring a consistent and disciplined approach to growth retention renewals and new business opportunities.

The role also identifies and develops new revenue opportunities via the commercialisation of emerging solutions and capabilities and builds strategic partnerships that enhance market position. As a senior leader in a matrix environment this role strengthens commercial capability across the organisation champions data-driven decision-making and ensures teams are aligned to deliver measurable commercial results.

Success in this role will depend on the ability to identify commercial opportunities translate strategic priorities into clear execution plans and lead cross-functional delivery through to measurable business outcomes. This is a hands-on strategy execution role requiring someone who can move seamlessly from defining the vision to driving implementation across the organisation.

Your Contributions

Core Commercial Leadership

• Lead the development and optimisation of pricing models deal economics commercial terms and remuneration frameworks that support sustainable growth and profitability.
• Partner with executive leadership to refine the go-to-market and commercial approach to drive revenue growth.
• Develop commercial plans resource recommendations and investment priorities aligned with business growth objectives.
• Oversee commercial governance and support negotiation of client contracts KPIs and commercial risk in partnership with Legal Risk and Compliance.
• Partner with Finance on forecasting revenue planning and performance monitoring.
• Drive client retention growth and expansion through a coordinated commercial strategy.
• Foster strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and key client decision-makers to improve alignment impact and long-term value.
• Drive account profitability and commercial performance across the client portfolio.
• Champion the adoption of AI-enabled commercial practices forecasting tools and decision-making frameworks to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Drive consistency in commercial practices pricing approaches and growth processes across regions while allowing for local market flexibility.

Commercial Operating Model & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Drive alignment across teams contributing to commercial outcomes with clear accountability and decision-making.
• Ensure deals are structured priced negotiated delivered and governed consistently across the business.
• Partner closely with:
• Data & Analytics / BI to support insight-led growth decisions.
• Finance / Client Finance / FP&A to connect commercial decisions with forecasting profitability budgeting and account performance.
• Operations to ensure commercial opportunities are operationally viable and scalable.
• Client Services to support growth across clients service lines geographies and Encore opportunities.
• Marketing to align demand generation market positioning and growth priorities.

Leadership & Capability Building

• Build develop and lead a high-performing commercial client-focused team in a matrixed environment.
• Foster a performance-driven collaborative culture focused on accountability growth and commercial outcomes.
• Develop future commercial leaders and strengthen capability across the broader commercial ecosystem.
• Build commercial capability across Client Services Business Development and other client-facing teams.

Performance Reporting & Market Insight

• Develop and maintain executive reporting and dashboards on commercial performance revenue health and growth opportunities.
• Use customer data market intelligence and competitor insight to shape growth strategy and targeting priorities.
• Convert insights into account plans proposition development and revenue opportunities.
• Stay informed on market trends competitor activity emerging technologies and AI developments relevant to future growth.
• Monitor performance against growth targets and recommend corrective actions where required.

Strategic Sourcing

• Partner with Client Services Operations and Finance to identify supplier commercial opportunities that improve account profitability client value and commercial outcomes excluding supplier compliance and operational management.

What We Are Looking For

• 10 years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated ability to identify strategic commercial opportunities develop comprehensive execution roadmaps and lead complex cross-functional transformation initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Agency or B2B services background is preferred
• Expertise in pricing strategy pricing model design and commercial governance.
• Strong experience in forecasting profitability management and business performance reporting.
• Proven ability to build and scale commercial operating models processes and account management frameworks.
• Experience managing and growing large enterprise accounts and executive-level client relationships.
• Expertise in proposal management commercial negotiations and deal structuring.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze revenue margin and profitability drivers.
• Experience leading transformation initiatives and driving organizational change.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex global and matrixed organizations.
• Advanced proficiency with CRM platforms business intelligence/reporting tools and AI-enabled commercial technologies.
• Exceptional stakeholder management strategic thinking analytical and decision-making skills.

At FIRST we believe that the passion creativity and commitment of our teams drive our success. Thats why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth

• Private Medical Insurance with BUPA from day one
• 28 Days Annual Leave PLUS Bank Holidays
• Personal Volunteer Day
• 20 Days of Sick Pay each Year
• Enhanced Parental Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Wellness Stipend
• Complimentary access to Headspace Rocket Lawyer & Maven
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Mobile Phone Allowance
• Pension Scheme Enhancements
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide including headquarters in London New York and Singapore you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

#LI-TS1 #LI-Hybrid

FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race color religion or belief national social or ethnic origin sex (including pregnancy) age physical mental or sensory disability sexual orientation gender identity and/or expression marital civil union or domestic partnership status past or present military service family medical history or genetic information family or parental status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.

Required Experience:

Exec

Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1