Established in 1967 as a Port Authority and now with eight strategically located ports across Scotland and England, Forth Ports handles an impressive 31 million tonnes of cargo each year. It is home to both London’s and Scotland’s largest ports - key gateways for international trade and domestic supply chains. Beyond the sheer scale of operations, Forth Ports contributes a remarkable £950 million in economic value annually, supporting businesses, communities, and the broader UK economy.

Port of Tilbury stands as the closest port to London, making it a critical gateway for trade into the capital and beyond. Each year, Tilbury handles around 16 million tonnes of cargo, accounting for an impressive 36% of the total volume moved along the River Thames. The port alone generates over half of the Forth Ports Group’s total turnover and supports around 700 direct employees, contributing £394 million annually to the UK economy. Having already undergone a £1billion investment programme, the port has ambitious plans to double its cargo throughput to 32 million tonnes per year and triple direct port-related employment from 4,000 to over 12,000 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.

The Commercial Director will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Port's commercial strategy. This includes shaping the commercial direction, driving revenue growth, and enhancing the skills and capabilities of our commercial teams.

The Commercial Director will work closely with the Regional Director, senior management team, operational teams, and other key stakeholders to develop and execute the Region’s strategic plan and priorities designed to deliver revenue growth and EBITDA for the Port of Tilbury London Limited (PoTLL). This role also involves providing leadership and mentoring to the Commercial teams and wider workforce within an agile leadership operating model across the Port.

We require a senior leader with prior experience in a commercial role and a strong network related to our key markets. Candidates should bring a proven track record in driving profitable growth and optimisation initiatives. Multi-site/multi-market expertise in large complex business environments would be beneficial.

If you would like to be part of a visionary leadership team driving transformational growth and shape the future of a powerhouse port services business, we would love to hear from you. Please apply or contact our retained advisor, Sophie Randles, at sophierandles@livingstonjames.com for a confidential discussion. You can also view the full position profile here: https://docs.livingstonjames.com/NMZQCh

Any direct applications or third-party introductions to Forth Ports will be forwarded to Livingston James for consideration.

Forth Ports is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.