At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial contracts for IT&T, ensuring value and performance from key supplier relationships.
- Company: UCL, a top global university with a diverse and innovative environment.
- Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, on-site gym, and employee support services.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape critical IT&T contracts and make a real impact in a leading university.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing complex contracts and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
About us UCL is one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary universities, with more than 18,000 staff and over 51,000 students from more than 150 countries.
Alongside our global reputation for teaching and research, we operate a significant and complex commercial environment, spending more than 900 million each year with third-party suppliers.
Commercial & Procurement Services plays an important role in ensuring this investment delivers maximum value for UCL.
Our IT&T commercial activity supports the technology, infrastructure, systems and services that underpin UCL’s teaching, research and professional services.
As we continue to strengthen our in-house commercial capability, we are looking for an experienced commercial contracts professional to help shape how some of our most important and business-critical IT&T supplier relationships and contracts are managed.
About the role As Head of Commercial Contracts – IT&T, you will provide senior commercial leadership across a portfolio of strategic, high-value and business-critical IT and technology supplier contracts.
Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain – IT&T, you will lead the commercial and contract management of key suppliers, ensuring contracts are actively managed throughout their lifecycle and continue to deliver value for money, strong service performance and appropriate protection from commercial, operational and supply-chain risk.
You will lead supplier governance and strategic supplier relationships, oversee complex commercial negotiations and contractual change, and use financial and performance insight to identify opportunities to improve value, manage cost and strengthen outcomes.
You will also lead the resolution of supplier performance and commercial issues, ensuring appropriate contractual remedies and escalation routes are used where required.
Working closely with Category Management, Finance, Legal, operational stakeholders and suppliers, you will help establish consistent, data-led commercial contract management practices and strengthen UCL’s approach to supplier performance, governance and commercial assurance.
About you You will be an experienced senior commercial or contract management professional with significant experience of managing, reviewing, negotiating and improving complex contracts within a large, complex or regulated organisation.
You will bring strong knowledge of contract lifecycle management, supplier governance, commercial and financial management, risk and value-for-money delivery.
Importantly, you will have a good understanding of contractual terms and mechanisms relevant to IT and technology services, which could include software, IT services, infrastructure or managed services contracts.
You will be confident leading complex supplier negotiations, managing contractual change and resolving commercial disputes or performance issues.
Strong analytical capability will enable you to interrogate commercial and financial information, challenge costs and supplier performance, and use data to provide clear insight to senior decision-makers.
You will also be a credible and collaborative senior stakeholder manager, able to advise, influence and constructively challenge senior colleagues, suppliers and cross-functional teams.
With strong commercial judgement and a continuous improvement mindset, you will help strengthen supplier accountability and build a high-performing commercial contract management capability across UCL.
What we offer As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan• Immigration loan• Relocation scheme for certain posts• On-Site nursery• On-site gym• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service• Discounted medical insurance Visit https://www. ucl. ac. uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent.
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T in London employer: University College London
University College London is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, particularly within the Cultural and Community Engagement team at UCL East. As an apprentice, you will benefit from hands-on experience in communications while being supported by a team dedicated to your professional growth and development. With a focus on diversity and community involvement, this role offers unique opportunities to engage with various events and initiatives that make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T at University College London!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like University College London or be willing to refer you for that Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from University College London who’s on the lookout for their next Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T role at University College London!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial Contracts IT&T in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at University College London. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at University College London
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at University College London. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
