Head of Commercial Income and Partnerships

Head of Commercial Income & Partnerships – Hope Farm Initiative

4-year Reaching Communities grant-funded fixed-term contract; intention to develop a sustainable longer-term role, subject to funding

Hours: 0.6 FTE / 22.5 hours per week; hybrid and seasonally adjusted

Salary: £36,000 FTE base (£21,600 at 0.6 FTE), plus performance-related bonus (terms to confirm)

Background:

Established in 2016, Hands of Hope is an award-winning community charity dedicated to improving health and wellbeing, reducing food poverty and social isolation, and creating opportunities for people to connect with nature, food and each other. Working across Rother, Hastings and West Kent, we deliver inclusive programmes that bring communities together through growing, cooking, heritage and environmental activities. In 2022, we received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of our work.

At the heart of the charity is Hope Farm Community Garden, our 22-acre organic site in Hawkhurst, Kent. The site includes a restored Edwardian walled garden, heritage orchard, productive kitchen gardens, Victorian glasshouse, wildlife habitats, outdoor learning spaces and a purpose-built Community Kitchen and Cookery School. Together, these facilities provide a unique setting for practical learning, volunteering, community engagement and activities that promote healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.

We are now entering an exciting new phase of development through the Hope Farm Initiative , supported by a four-year National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities award. This programme will strengthen our charitable activities while developing partnerships, commercial experiences and earned-income opportunities to support Hope Farm's long-term financial sustainability. Our ambition is to create a thriving community destination where charitable, educational and commercial activities work together to generate lasting social and environmental benefits.

Alongside this, our three-year National Lottery Heritage Fund programme, Dig for Victory – Stories, Skills and Sustainable Food Heritage , will celebrate and preserve the region's food-growing and culinary heritage through community growing projects, traditional cookery, education, oral histories and intergenerational learning.

This is an opportunity to join Hands of Hope at a pivotal stage in its development, helping to shape a sustainable future for Hope Farm while ensuring that community access, inclusion and positive social impact remain central to everything we do.

Job purpose:

The postholder will lead the development of commercial income and strategic partnerships for Hope Farm, creating a sustainable portfolio of mission-aligned activities that help fund Hands of Hope’s charitable, educational, heritage and environmental work.

Working with the wider team, they will identify markets, develop customer and corporate relationships, package and promote experiences, manage enquiries and bookings, and establish realistic pricing and income plans for the site’s facilities, expertise and seasonal activities.

A central priority will be to increase earned income from corporate volunteering and team building, venue and event hire, cookery and horticultural experiences, retail, and seasonal activities, while supporting the operational leads who remain accountable for safe delivery, quality, and financial performance within their areas.

The role will balance chargeable and non-chargeable activities, ensuring that commercial growth strengthens community access, provides meaningful opportunities for participants and volunteers, and protects the charity’s values and environmental commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial strategy and income generation

· Develop and deliver an annual commercial income and partnership plan with agreed targets, budgets, priorities, and reporting measures.

· Identify, test and grow viable earned-income opportunities, including corporate team building, volunteering experiences, venue hire, private and seasonal events, commercial workshops, and appropriate visitor offers.

· Develop business cases, pricing models, and costings with operational leads, ensuring activities make a positive contribution after direct and appropriately allocated costs.

· Maintain a sales pipeline, monitor conversion, bookings, revenue, margins, and repeat business, and recommend improvements based on performance and customer feedback.

Corporate and community partnerships

· Build and maintain relationships with employers, local businesses, tourism and hospitality organisations, schools and other potential customers and partners across Kent, Sussex and beyond.

· Develop compelling partnership propositions, sponsorship and corporate volunteering packages that deliver clear benefits for businesses and meaningful value for Hands of Hope.

· Coordinate commercial proposals, quotations, agreements, and customer follow-up, working with Project Operational Lead on significant or strategic commitments.

Marketing, bookings, and customer experience

· Lead the promotion and sale of Hope Farm’s chargeable experiences in collaboration with colleagues responsible for communications and programme delivery.

· Coordinate enquiries, bookings, customer information, and commercial event schedules; agree practical delivery requirements with the relevant operational lead.

· Help ensure a professional, welcoming, and accessible customer journey, and use feedback to improve products, partnerships, and repeat bookings.

Cross-team commercial development

· Work with the Head of Food & Nutrition to market and sell café, hospitality, cookery, and corporate food experiences; food safety and day-to-day kitchen operations remain with that Head.

· Work with the Head of Horticulture, Heritage & Estates to develop markets and sales channels for vegetable boxes, nursery plants, cut flowers, seasonal produce, and horticultural workshops; growing and production remain with that Head.

· Coordinate appropriate site-wide opportunities, ensuring that commercial activity is compatible with grant-funded programmes, heritage commitments, environmental management, and community access.

Financial accountability and reporting

· Prepare income forecasts and commercial budgets, track results against agreed objectives and report regularly to the Project Operational Lead.

· Maintain accurate booking, customer and partnership records and work with colleagues on appropriate cost allocation, contracts, insurance, and compliance.

· Support an organisation-wide culture in which each senior lead identifies suitable income opportunities while maintaining their own operational and charitable responsibilities.

Person SpecificationEssential experience, skills, and knowledge

· Demonstrable experience developing business, generating income, selling services, or building commercial partnerships, ideally in a venue, visitor, hospitality, leisure, charity, or social-enterprise setting.

· Ability to develop propositions, price services, prepare proposals, manage a sales pipeline, and convert enquiries into confirmed business.

· Commercial and financial literacy, including budgets, costings, margins, income forecasts, and performance reporting.

· Strong relationship-building, negotiation, communication, and customer-service skills, with confidence engaging businesses and community partners.

· Excellent organisation and digital administration skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, bookings, and stakeholders.

· Ability to collaborate with specialist operational managers and balance commercial opportunities with community, educational and environmental priorities.

Desirable experience and knowledge

· Experience of corporate volunteering, team building, sponsorship, events, venue hire, or visitor attraction income.

· Experience developing earned income for a charity, community organisation, or social enterprise.

· Knowledge of the Kent and Sussex business community, tourism market, or relevant regional networks.

· Experience marketing food, horticulture, heritage or nature-based experiences and developing repeat customer relationships.

Personal qualities

· Entrepreneurial, proactive and commercially astute, with the initiative to turn ideas into deliverable opportunities.

· Collaborative, practical and respectful of specialist colleagues’ operational responsibilities.

· Warm, persuasive, and professional, with a commitment to excellent relationships and customer experiences.

· Committed to inclusion, sustainability, and Hands of Hope’s charitable purpose.

General Responsibilities

Follow Hands of Hope policies and applicable safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, and environmental requirements. Maintain records for monitoring, evaluation, and funder reporting. Work collaboratively across the team and undertake reasonable duties consistent with the role.

All senior postholders are expected to contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of Hope Farm by identifying appropriate income-generating opportunities within their areas of responsibility, balancing chargeable and non-chargeable activity while protecting charitable, educational, heritage and environmental objectives.

Main terms and conditions

Annual leave: 28 days FTE excluding Bank Holidays, pro rata for part-time staff. Working patterns will be agreed according to operational requirements. Some evening, weekend and Bank Holiday work may be required. Appointment is subject to satisfactory references and, where appropriate, a DBS check.

Pay: From £36,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Hawkhurst TN18 4QB