Commercial Operations Manager

Reports to: Vice President of Operations

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (flexible working requests such as compressed hours will be considered)

Location: Stratford (London) or Babraham (Cambridge) with travel to TI CRUK sites 1-2 days per week.

Closing date: 26 June 2025 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment.

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

Recruitment process: Screening call followed by competency based interview. Interview date: W/C 30th Screening calls, W/C 7th Competency based Interviews.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. Cancer Research UK are looking for a diligent and organised procurement, legal, or supplier management professional who can bring experience of working with scientific and Laboratory Supplies Vendors.

This role sits within our Cancer Research Horizons operations team and offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work across a diverse group of stakeholders including scientists, legal and procurement professionals.

In this role, you will be helping to facilitate the end-to-end procurement process by putting in place contracts to support Therapeutic Innovation (TI), the drug discovery arm of CRH. You will work in conjunction with TI Scientific and Operational staff to implement and manage contracts as well as building and maintaining relationships with key suppliers and stakeholders across the business. You will work collaboratively with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure that TI is obtaining the best possible value for money and quality of service.

The post holder is expected to travel to TI and CRUK sites on a regular basis (1-2 days a week in total) but there will be flexibility to work remotely. The cost of travel to sites other than the post holder's primary location will be covered by Cancer Research Horizons.

What will I be doing?

• Work with stakeholders to ensure appropriate and timely coordination with key functions including Commercial Partnerships, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Information Security and Data Governance.
• Streamline the contracting process by following, and amending where appropriate, existing SOPs, and ensuring efficient collaboration across internal stakeholders.
• For new projects or supplier contract renewals, complete thorough reviews of available options in a timely manner, conduct supplier due diligence and document recommendations.
• Coordinate contract reviews, monitor agreement renewal dates and file supplier contracts within the appropriate systems.
• Work with teams to identify potential suppliers and negotiate contracts for approved capital expenditure items as required.
• Work with Commercial Partnerships and Legal colleagues to implement CDAs, MSAs and MTAs where appropriate.
• Conduct initial reviews of terms and conditions for all new and renewed procurement, software and service agreements and act as a point of contact with legal for any further contract reviews.
• Act as key point of supplier support for TI by providing advice and guidance to colleagues to assist with supplier management.

What are you looking for?

• Experience working with Software, Equipment, Reagent and Consumables suppliers in the Contract Research Organisation (CRO), pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrable knowledge of supplier management processes.
• Experience reviewing legal terms and conditions in a procurement setting and familiarity with key terms of core legal agreements such as confidentiality agreements, supplier terms and conditions, software supply agreements, services agreements, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively across channels with a wide-ranging audience.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage conflicting priorities, working under pressure and to tight timescales.
• Solution-driven mindset with a proactive approach to work.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Engages with confidence and builds trusting relationships.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

• Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
• Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
• Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
• Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.