Commercial Manager, Mumbai

Job Description:

Commercial Manager – Pan India Operations (Franchise & Company-Owned Centres)

Industry:

Education / Learning Centres / EdTech / Training Institutes

Experience Required:

10+ years in commercial operations, preferably with at least 3 years in a similar multi-location setup within the education, retail, or service industry

Role Summary:

The Commercial Manager – Pan India Operations will be responsible for end-to-end commercial and operational management of both company-owned and franchise-operated education centres across India. This role encompasses centre setup, fit-outs, repairs, procurement, vendor management, branding, compliance, budgeting, and franchise support, ensuring smooth functioning, cost efficiency, and scalability of operations.

The ideal candidate is a structured, detail-oriented, and commercially savvy professional who can lead multiple stakeholders and manage diverse teams for efficient, standardized centre operations across formats.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Pan-India Centre Setup & Infrastructure Development

• Oversee all new centre setups (both franchise and company-owned) including location feasibility, leasing, design approval, fit-outs, IT infrastructure, and go-live.
• Standardize fit-out guidelines and ensure brand compliance in layouts and interiors.
• Coordinate with architects, civil contractors, vendors, and local teams to ensure timely and cost-effective centre launches.

2. Commercial & Operational Management

• Manage lease negotiations, rental agreements, rent-free periods, and renewals with landlords.
• Monitor and control operational expenses (utilities, AMC contracts, repairs, supplies) across all centres.
• Develop and implement SOPs for day-to-day operations to ensure uniformity and operational excellence.

3. Franchise Partner Coordination & Support

• Provide commercial support and operational guidance to franchise partners during setup and ongoing operations.
• Ensure franchise centres meet infrastructure, branding, and compliance standards.
• Conduct regular audits and health checks for franchise compliance.

4. Vendor & Contract Management

• Empanel and manage national and regional vendors for interior work, branding, IT, AMC, security, housekeeping, etc.
• Draft and enforce service level agreements (SLAs), ensuring service quality and cost optimization.
• Maintain a preferred vendor list and centralized negotiation for bulk procurement.

5. Repairs, Maintenance & Asset Management

• Implement preventive and reactive maintenance protocols for all centres.
• Monitor and resolve repair and maintenance issues efficiently with minimum downtime.
• Maintain an inventory of fixed assets and consumables.

6. Branding & Marketing Infrastructure

• Coordinate with the marketing team to ensure all centres reflect updated branding (signage, display, collaterals).
• Supervise execution of branding elements during new launches, rebranding, or promotional rollouts.

7. Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Optimization

• Prepare and monitor budgets for new centre development and operational expenses.
• Identify areas for cost reduction and efficiency improvement without compromising service quality.
• Regular review of ROI per centre in collaboration with finance and business heads.

8. Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure adherence to statutory norms including municipal, educational board regulations, fire safety, labour laws, etc.
• Maintain updated documentation for all centres—lease deeds, licenses, insurance, vendor contracts, and audit records.

9. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with Academic, HR, Finance, Marketing, Legal, and Tech teams to align commercial operations with business goals.
• Act as a central point of contact for all infra, setup, and commercial escalations.

10. MIS & Reporting

• Maintain real-time dashboards and monthly reports on centre performance, vendor SLAs, cost deviations, and timelines.
• Present quarterly reviews to leadership on commercial and operational KPIs.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Multi-location operations & commercial strategy
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills
• Strong project management (fit-out, launch timelines)
• Knowledge of leasing, facility, and asset management
• Understanding of franchise models and partner dynamics
• Cost control and budgeting expertise
• High ownership and ability to work cross-functionally
• Proficiency in MS Excel, MIS tools, and ERP platforms

• Preferred background: Education chains, co-working, organized retail, EdTech, or franchise-based businesses

Travel Requirement:

• Willingness to travel frequently across India for site visits, audits, vendor meetings, and centre support