Commercial Operations Associate

Cancer Research UK; Babraham; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Cancer Research UK is seeking a commercially minded individual to join our Cambridge operations team as a Commercial Operations Associate. You will help manage contract documentation, coordinate approvals, maintain compliance, and support supplier agreements across the TI Operations group.

Working closely with scientific and operational colleagues, you will assist purchasing, procurement and contracting activities, including PO management, pricing updates and reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting contract management and procurement activities.
• Ability to coordinate reviews and maintain contract records.
• Experience engaging with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Support administration and management of equipment purchase, scientific service (CROs) and software contracts, including coordinating reviews and maintaining contract records.
• Support the full contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, ensuring key dates, milestones and actions are tracked and communicated.
• Act as first point of contact for routine contract and supplier-related queries, escalating complex matters where appropriate.
• Monitor Commercial Helpdesk tickets and review, triage and resolve where possible those relating to commercial, escalating to other Operations Team members as required.
• Coordinate contract processes across internal stakeholders including business operations, procurement and legal teams.
• Support procurement activities including supplier sourcing, due diligence, evaluation and onboarding processes.
• Support commercial negotiations including pricing, service levels, and delivery terms.
• Contribute to process improvements by suggesting ways to streamline workflows.
• Ad hoc duties as required.

Skills

Contract management

Procurement

Supplier relations

Communication

Job description

Commercial Operations Associate £38,000 - £43,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Commercial Operations Manager

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (High Flex 1-2 days per week on-site)

Closing date: Sunday 6th September 23:55pm

Recruitment process: Screening call followed by competency-based interview on-site. Interview dates: Screening calls will take place from the week commencing the 14th September, with on-site interviews the following week (Either the 24th / 25th September)

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

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We have an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded individual to join our Operations team in Cambridge.

In this role, you will provide essential support to the Therapeutic Innovation (TI) Operations team, playing a key part in managing contract documentation, coordinating approvals, maintaining compliance, and supporting the administration of supplier agreements.

Working closely with scientific and operational colleagues across the organisation, you will support purchasing, procurement, and contracting activities, including purchase order management, pricing updates, and reporting.

You will act as a first point of contact for routine supplier queries and commercial processes, helping to ensure issues are resolved efficiently and professionally.

You will also be responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date contract and supplier records, including approvals, renewals, and due diligence information.

By collaborating with internal stakeholders, you will help ensure that commercial processes run smoothly, consistently, and in line with organisational requirements.

This is a high-flex role with the successful applicant expected to be on site 1-2 days per week. Travel to other sites will be required on an ad hoc basis.

What will you be doing?

Support the administration and management of equipment purchase, scientific service (CROs) and software contracts, including coordinating reviews and maintaining contract records.

Support and the full contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, ensuring key dates, milestones and actions are tracked and communicated.

Act as first point of contact for routine contract and supplier-related queries, escalating complex matters where appropriate.

Monitor Commercial Helpdesk tickets and review, triage and resolve where possible those relating to commercial, escalating to other Operations Team members as required.

Coordinate contract processes across internal stakeholders including business operations, procurement and legal teams.

Support procurement activities including supplier sourcing, due diligence, evaluation and onboarding processes.

Support commercial negotiations including pricing, service levels, and delivery terms.

Contribute to process improvements by suggesting ways to streamline workflows.

Ad hoc duties as required.

What are we looking for?

Experienced in supporting commercial or contract management activities, ideally in the Life Sciences industry.

Good communication and influencing skills when working with internal and external stakeholders.

Experience supporting the review, negotiation, administration and ongoing management of commercial contracts.

Experience supporting procurement and sourcing activities within a structured business environment.

Ability to manage multiple priorities across contracts and procurement workflows.

Proactive, solution-oriented mindset and willingness to learn.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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

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 and take positive steps in your career. You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

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. Please contact [e-mail] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

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.

We’re the world’s leading cancer charity, dedicated to saving and improving lives with our research. We work to reduce the impact of cancer on people’s day-to-day lives through our research, influence and information. We are beating cancer – step by step, day by day.

Find a purposeful career that will empower you to grow and collaborate with like-minded experts.