Commercial Director – National Centre for Child Health Technology - #1779715

Legacy Park Ltd (LPL), in partnership with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (Sheffield Children’s), is looking to recruit a Commercial Director for the new National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT).

Sheffield Children’s is embarking on an innovative phase of development by investing in a world-leading National Centre for Child Health Technology, combining global clinical expertise with cutting-edge innovation, with the ambition to revolutionise children’s healthcare now and in the future. The Commercial Director will be employed by LPL and seconded to Sheffield Children’s for 80% of their time. The role will focus on developing and delivering the commercial and finance strategies for the Centre, and (during the 20% of time working for LPL) on developing relationships across Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

As Commercial Director, you will play a key role in shaping the NCCHT’s financial and strategic direction. Your responsibilities will include forging partnerships, negotiating contracts with external organisations, and developing a robust commercial framework. You will ensure the NCCHT operates as a financially sustainable entity while effectively integrating within the NHS landscape.

You be responsible for developing and shaping the NCCHT in preparation for opening in 2026, and in the months following this. The role is initially set for 18 months, with the potential to extend. A review of the position and its requirements will take place after this time.

Further information and a candidate pack can be found at: sheffieldolympiclegacypark.co.uk/legacy-park-ltd-jobs/

Applications should be submitted by email to [email protected]

Closing date: Monday 30 June

Interviews: Early July

The National Centre for Child Health Technology

Sheffield Children’s is creating a world-class facility dedicated to delivering a healthier future for children and young people which will open at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park in 2026. Harnessing £24.2m of investment from Sheffield Children’s, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council and the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, this purpose-built world-leading research and technology centre will radically transform and advance the future of healthcare delivery

Description of the role

The Commercial Director will be responsible for developing and shaping the commercial workstream for the NCCHT in preparation for opening in 2026, and in the months following this. The role is initially set for 18 months, with the potential to extend. A review of the position and its requirements will take place after this time.

Responsibilities

For Sheffield Children’s:

a) Develop and refine the Centre’s commercial strategy. This will include:

- Building and showcasing the unique offer of the NCCHT in the UK including clinical expertise, access to groundbreaking technologies and wider innovation support to deliver the income stream.

- Reviewing the pricing strategy around the costs of rental and subscriptions.

- Conducting market testing to identify the most effective strategies for enhancing the Centre’s appeal to potential partners.

- Crafting a strategic framework for the Centre’s return on investment and intellectual property management, ensuring innovations – developed in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s clinicians and the Centre’s advanced facilities – are effectively leveraged for long-term impact and sustainability.

b) Establish the Centre’s commercial functions. This includes establishing the approach to rental of the Centre’s facilities, subscription models and other approaches to revenue raising.

c) Maximise both the financial and health outcomes of the innovations developed in the Centre:

• Drive adoption of sales of new technologies and solutions to the wider children’s health and general healthcare community

• Assume an advisory, mentoring and business development role to increase presence and deployment of new technologies.

d) Promote the work of the Centre, in order to build awareness amongst potential commercial partners:

• Working with the the Trust Board, Senior Leaders and Communications team to represent the Centre locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, promoting the work it is doing and raising the profile of the organisation.

e) Identify potential partners that will support the NCCHT to become financially sustainable and deliver its commercial objectives, drawing on the strategic priorities set by the Executive Team and the Trust Board, and the financial and funding strategies laid out in the business case. This will include:

• Innovators who are interested in renting the physical space, including start-ups

• Innovators and corporates who are interested in being members of the virtual network and the wider innovation ecosystem of the Centre

• Researchers and academics

• Investors who are interested in working with the Centre

• Public sector funding organisations including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

• Other organisations on Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

f) Develop relationships and robust commercial arrangements with the confirmed partner organisations, including overseeing the development and negotiation of contractual arrangements with partners.

g) Work in line with the Sheffield Children’s values and with the Trust Board, Executive Team and NCCHT workstream leads to inform activity across the NCCHT team.

For Legacy Park Ltd:

h) Develop formal partnerships between the NCCHT and other organisations within the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park network, to support the commercial function, and explore strategic opportunities to work together for mutual benefit.

Person specification

We are looking for a highly experienced senior professional with extensive expertise in the commercial sector and innovation. Ideally, the candidate will also have a strong background in healthcare and experience working within the NHS.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of leading successful commercial and business functions for companies going through periods of innovation and change

• Knowledge of the child health environment globally

• Healthcare industry experience including at a senior level

• Technology and innovation experience including at a senior level

• Digital health experience

• Experience in developing and executing successful strategic change and commercialisation strategies

• Track record of working with large enterprise and start-up organisations

• MBA preferred.

Skills

• Evidence of demonstrable and rounded commercial leadership skills, e.g.:

- Strategic thinking

- Sales and marketing with a history of growing sales and revenue with sustained commercial partnerships

- Taking products to market and developing pricing strategies

- Successfully executing and managing projects

- Senior stakeholder engagement and influence

- International commercial experience

- Effective negotiator and deal closer with contracting experience

- Ability to think creatively and develop non-traditional solutions to complex business challenges

- High level of personal resilience

- Establishment of novel revenue streams.

• Patient engagement and public involvement expertise:

- Deep understanding of the significance of empowering both patients and parents in healthcare decision-making

• Exceptional communication skills:

- Highly articulate and compelling verbal communicator, capable of engaging effectively at board level

- Skilled in persuasive storytelling, with confidence in public speaking, media interactions, and stage presentations

- Strong written communication abilities, with experience in drafting diverse documents, including board papers and strategic reports.

Personal attributes

• Proactive and results-oriented: not just an adviser but an active contributor, committed to developing and executing commercial strategies, with collaborative support from colleagues within the Trust

• Inspirational leadership: demonstrates empathetic, inclusive, and motivational leadership, fostering a positive and high-performance workplace culture

• Team development expertise: proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, driving innovation and efficiency

• Adaptable and creative thinker: comfortable navigating complex and ambiguous environments, applying creativity and strategic insight to overcome challenges.

Salary

To be negotiated

Employment arrangements

Flexible working arrangements will be considered, including part-time arrangements. The successful candidate will be expected to spend time in Sheffield on a regular basis, for face-to-face meetings and networking.

The post will be recruited and hosted by LPL, and seconded to Sheffield Children’s. For HR and payment purposes the post will sit within LPL.