Commercial Operations Manager

About Right Formula

At Right Formula, we enable brands to push the limits of sports marketing through a unique blend of expertise, ingenuity and agility that we call the Right Formula. Our complete 360-degree service offering takes brands from partnership identification through to the delivery of fully integrated marketing strategies. With offices in the UK and the US, we support clients worldwide, helping them to accelerate growth through the power of sport.

Role Overview

The Commercial Operations Manager owns a portfolio of new business opportunities end to end, from pitch through to contract, and begins to manage junior team members. This role blends process discipline with the creativity and client-facing confidence needed to lead pitches. This is a 15 month Fixed Term Contract.

Key Responsibilities

New business leadership

• Own the bid lifecycle for assigned opportunities end to end, from initial opportunity assessment through to submission and post-bid debrief.
• Lead selected pitch workstreams and RFI/RFP responses from brief through to submission, engaging specialist teams and international contacts where relevant.
• Write and shape compelling, technically accurate proposal content, including executive summaries, management plans and case studies, that answers the brief and reflects current market context.
• Lead pitch rehearsals and debriefs, setting the standard for how the team prepares and improves between opportunities.
• Own the credentials and case study library for an assigned sector or client set, ensuring materials stay current and impactful.
• Use the opportunity tracker and Synergist reporting to prioritise where time and resource are spent across the pipeline.

Commercial & contract negotiation

• Collaborate on the negotiation of SOWs and work orders with clients, escalating MSA-level or high-risk terms to the Commercial Operations Director or legal counsel.
• Review contracts for commercial red flags (termination, pass-through costs, payment terms, liability) and manage redlines with Commercial Operations Director and legal counsel.

Account growth

• Support on service upsells for existing clients, working with delivery teams to scope any additional value Right Formula could add.
• Develop and pitch new sponsorship opportunities for existing clients, including ideas flagged by Senior Commercial Operations Executives, taking them from concept through to client conversation.

Team & process

• Mentor junior team members, reviewing their work and supporting their growth.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Right Formula's pitch process, templates and commercial documentation standards.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience running bids or pitches end to end, from opportunity assessment through submission to post-bid debrief.
• Strong proposal writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, technically accurate content — executive summaries, management plans and case studies — that answers the brief.
• Experience leading pitch workstreams and RFI/RFP responses, coordinating specialist and international contributors to deadline.
• Commercial contract literacy: able to review SOWs and work orders, spot red flags around termination, pass-through costs, payment terms and liability, and know when to escalate to senior or legal counsel.
• A track record of identifying and pitching upsell or new sponsorship opportunities within existing accounts, working with delivery teams to scope the value.
• Confident client-facing presence, comfortable leading pitch rehearsals, debriefs and negotiation conversations.
• Experience mentoring or reviewing the work of junior colleagues and getting the best out of specialist teams without formal authority.
• Disciplined use of pipeline and reporting tools to prioritise time and resource across a portfolio of opportunities.
• Organised and calm under pressure, holding standards through tight deadlines and late changes without passing stress down to the team.

Role Structure & Benefits

• Hybrid working
• Flexible hours with core working hours between 10am – 4pm
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Gym & Retail Discounts
• Enhanced Employer Pension contribution
• Mental Wellbeing Day & Volunteer Day in addition to annual leave
• Sabbatical Leave in conjunction with long-service
• Employee Assistance Programme

After successfully passing probation:

• Private Healthcare
• £500 per annum individual training budget
• Cycle to work scheme
• Payroll giving
• Season Ticket Loan
• Work From Anywhere Allowance