Senior Manager, Business Support to Co - Chief Commercial Officer

At McLaren Racing, we’re not just here to try to take the chequered flag. We’re here to excite our fans, inspire our people and deliver for our partners. And we’re also committed to evolving our sport, our industry, and our technology, too. 

Purpose of the Role:  

The Senior Manager, Business Support to Co-Chief Commercial Officer (CCCO)will play a crucial role in providing business support to the CCCO in a dynamic Commercial department. This position supports the CCCO by managing operations, ensuring strategic alignment within the CCCO’s sphere of control as well as more broadly across the wider Commercial function, that will enhance efficiency across the team. 

The role of the Senior Manager, Business Support to CCCO enhances the effectiveness of the CCCO by streamlining operations, facilitating strategic initiatives, and acting as a crucial communication link within the Commercial and wider McLaren Racing functions. This role allows the CCCO to focus on the bigger picture, driving the commercial vision and growth while ensuring that the day-to-day operations align with overall strategic goals. 

The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual with exceptional organisational, diplomatic and communication skills and solid commercial acumen. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating strategic commercial projects, facilitating communication, streamlining reporting, and acting as a liaison between the CCCO and other stakeholders, spanning all series. In addition, the role will also support the Co-Chief Commercial Officer, BD where required. 

Principal Accountabilities:  

Operational efficiency: 

• Support and prioritise the CCCOs schedule and tasks, and handle day-to-day administrative responsibilities, allowing the CCCO to focus on high-level strategic activity including partner executive CRM. 

• Working in tandem with the CCCO EA, handle routine and administrative tasks to allow the CCCO to maintain a better work-life balance, which can improve overall performance and decision-making. 

• Ensure the CCCO is well-prepared for meetings and speaking opportunities which includes gathering relevant information, creating agendas, and summarising key points. 

• Follow up and ensure that meeting actions are defined and managed. 

• Work with the communications department to ensure, predominantly that LinkedIn posts are consistently posted in acknowledgement of McLaren and Partner activity. 

• Ensuring departmental reporting is up to date across all areas of the CCCO remit. 

Growth and capitalising on racing portfolio  

• Support with commercial projects and relevant pieces of work, ensuring relevant cross department stakeholders are consulted and aligned on the direction when working through complex cross series partner growth opportunities.  

• Increase agility and reaction time to growth opportunities through focus and collaboration with partnerships team.

• Helping to translate the CCCO’s vision into actionable plans, monitoring their execution and providing updates.  

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across departments and series.  

Reporting: 

• Working with the Brand Strategy & Insights team ensure that data analysis and insights is used to support growth opportunities. This includes synthesizing information from various sources to present clear and actionable insights. 

• Prepare comprehensive reports, dashboards, and presentations for the CCCO and executive team as it relates to opportunity pipeline CRM (engagement and campaigns).

Strategic Support: 

• Support the CCCO in identifying and pursuing new opportunities as well as fielding inbound third-party opportunities across revenue generation opportunities.

• Lead the CCCO CRM proactive engagement opportunities with partners and key stakeholders and the reporting of this. 

• Proactively identify and solve operational problems, ensuring that the executive is aware of potential issues before they escalate. 

• Support, where required, with cross-functional teams to address business issues. 

Communication and Liaison: 

• Serve as a point of contact between the CCCO and internal/external stakeholders. Attend meetings from time to time on behalf of CCCO. 

• Act as a bridge between the CCCO and other departments, facilitating clear and consistent communication, helping to mitigate misunderstandings and ensure alignment. 

• Construct clear briefs as it relates to complex cross series growth opportunities and other pieces of work. 

• Manage internal and external communications, including drafting emails and announcements. 

• Ensure that the CCCO is prepared for external speaking opportunities. 

• Support across social media platforms for the CCCO. 

• Help manage relationships with key stakeholders, agencies and partners, ensuring that communications are smooth and objectives are met. 

Budget and Resource Management: 

• Partner with Finance, Director of Partnerships F1, Commercial Director WEC and VP marketing and commercial IndyCar to understand respective department budgets and to identify any gaps that may exist to grow cross series opportunities. 

• Input into the commercial budget to ensure that all decisions are fiscally sound. 

• Monitor expenses, process invoices, and ensure compliance with financial policies. 

• Coordinate the procurement and allocation of resources and materials. 

Leadership & Culture: 

• Lead special projects or initiatives, acting as an extension of the CCCO’s leadership. 

• Help to foster and maintain a positive culture by ensuring that the CCCO’s values and vision are communicated and role modelled throughout the Commercial department. 

• Lead on the delivery for internal team events and engagement opportunities to embed a culture of collaboration, trust and fun. Work in close collaboration with the Exec Assistants and relevant team members.  

• When required, help to navigate and manage unexpected challenges that occur due to the dynamic nature of our business. 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:  

• Good experience in a similar role, preferably within the sports industry. 

• Proven experience in some or all of partner management, project management and strategic support. 

• Commerical acumen: Understands how commercial decisions impact financial outcomes  

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in with ability to read trends and turn insights into actions. 

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask, prioritize and build authentic relationships swiftly. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. 

• Solid commercial and financial acumen. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management software. 

• Knowledge of the sports industry and a passion for sports marketing is highly desirable. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. 

• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of work. 

• Problem-Solving: Identifies issues and develops effective solutions. 

• Proactive: Takes initiative and anticipates the needs of the CMO and the marketing department. 

• Influence: strong ability to shape, mold, and guide the actions, behaviours, and opinions of others. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively with others. 

• Credible: can demonstrate trust and respect through conversations, advising or leading others. 

• Adaptability: Adjusts to changing priorities and handles multiple tasks simultaneously. 

• Financial acumen: can understand and interpret key financial reports including P&L.

• Confidentiality: Maintains strict confidentiality and exercises discretion in handling sensitive information. 

What can McLaren offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Here at McLaren, we offer hybrid working with 3 days a week based in the MTC.

Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.