Director, Commerical

About Vantage Group

Vantage Group is a global leader in airport and transportation investment, development, management, and advisory services. Since 1994, Vantage’s corporate and network-wide team has managed an award-winning portfolio, building strong partnerships that integrate global expertise and local know-how to solve complex transportation challenges at every network location. Over three decades, Vantage has built a track record of creating customized solutions to transform airports and transportation centers that benefit the passengers, stakeholders, and communities they serve. Vantage is a wholly owned strategic platform of Investcorp Corsair Infrastructure Partners for capital deployment in the airport and transportation sectors. Visit vantagegroup.com to learn more.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Director, Commercial Performance or designate, the Commercial Director will be focused on enhancing the commercial department’s competitive position and improving performance along with the employee and customer experience at each site. This will include the development and implementation of business tools and processes that allow site leadership to optimize non-aeronautical performance and maximize revenue. The role will lead Operational Readiness and Transition (ORAT) in the Commercial area, essentially functioning as a project manager at times to ensure the smooth transition and integration of the commercial assets into the portfolio. The Commercial Director will foster a performance driven culture, establish standardized onboarding, training, and operational tools and processes that enable the team to scale proven active commercial management systems across the Vantage network of travel centers. This position is responsible for overseeing the ongoing development of these systems and their implementation, including related maintenance, upkeep, and analytics.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain tools to support and stabilize existing commercial management techniques and reporting platforms, working closely with commercial network leadership, the Group Commercial Analyst, and the Commercial Marketing Director to ensure a comprehensive approach and scalability.
• Proactively engage with commercial network leadership to develop and maintain strong relationships with network commercial teams and provide support to deliver best in class commercial concession programs.
• Assist in developing programs and actions for long-term commercial plans for the network airports to maximize revenue.
• Effectively engage local teams to ensure their ownership, action and follow-through, to achieve desired commercial outcomes.
• Support Commercial Strategy & Leasing team in providing input to negotiations and contract management strategies for new leases/renegotiation of existing leases.
• Lead ORAT activity and functions; serves as a project manager to oversee development, transition activities, and the implementation of new concessions programs or locations. Coordinate development processes across commercial sites including brand changes, new subtenant onboarding, and construction projects.
• Review existing commercial performance materials and develop a comprehensive operational excellence tool kit that will allow the commercial business to scale through organized onboarding, training, and operational guidance, starting with our existing business and including the ability to use our tools for new projects.
• Streamline commercial plans and processes, to align and enable the broader commercial team to maximize performance, drive sales growth, and increase revenues across applicable network sites.
• Develop and recommend corporate policies relevant to the department that comply with contract and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in mentoring concession employees, work collaboratively across the organization to drive optimal results, encourage strong employee morale, and create a positive workplace culture to ensure a world-class customer experience.
• Assist with the preparation of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for wider team, partners, clients and executives to provide business and operational updates.
• Support commercial network leadership in developing annual business plans and budgets.
• Other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the position may be assigned by the Senior Director, Commercial Performance.

Primary Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in commerce, business administration or a related field from an accredited post-secondary institution.
• At least 10 years’ experience in airport, commercial/concessions or related area with at least 5 years’ experience in a managerial or leadership role.
• Experience working within a regulated business environment is an asset.
• Project management and implementation, program management, change management, and business systems experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to develop trusting, and collaborative professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated team leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop team members for exceptional performance and contribution.
• Some experience creating/working with automated dashboards, standardized reports, and enterprise systems preferred.

About You

• You are curious and have a good ability to ask questions, this will result in an effective approach to problem-solving and will lead to team buy-in and team alignment
• Comfortable managing complex projects utilizing standard project management tools and leading cross-functional teams.
• Ability to act as a liaison between Vantage’s operational team, business partners, and the client.
• Able to create streamlined systems and processes and a passion for continuous improvement on established processes.
• Comfortable writing formal documents, training materials, SOPs, and agendas.
• Experience developing and implementing technology-based strategies and systems to gain insight and drive performance.
• Other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the position may be assigned by the Senior Director, Commercial Performance.

Primary Work Location: Preference of Chicago, IL. Position can also be worked out of New York, NY 

What we offer

In addition to a competitive compensation and benefits package, career progression, and access to a global team of talented professionals, we are growing and offer boundless opportunities to make your mark. If you share our sense of adventure, come, and join us for the journey. The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $160,000 USD.

To apply

Please visit our Careers page at:

https://www.vantagegroup.com/careers/ and follow prompts to apply with your cover letter and résumé.

All qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in the US will be considered

At Vantage Group, we seek and welcome unique backgrounds, perspectives, experiences and skills. As a global organization, we are always looking for differentiated points of view. We know that a diverse, inclusive and empowered workforce is essential to our shared success, and we invite you to join us for the journey.

For more information about Vantage Group, please visit: www.vantagegroup.com