Commercial Operations Associate

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

Job summary

Cancer Research UK is seeking a Commercial Operations Associate to join the Cambridge-based Operations team. You will provide essential support for contract documentation, approvals, and supplier agreements while coordinating procurement activities and helping ensure compliance.

The role is based at Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, with high-flex on-site presence 1–2 days weekly. You will interact with scientific and operational colleagues to optimise commercial processes.

Qualifications

• Experienced in supporting commercial or contract management activities.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Support administration and management of equipment purchases, CROs and software contracts, including coordinating reviews and maintaining contract records.
• Support full contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, ensuring key dates and milestones are tracked.
• Act as first contact for routine contract and supplier-related queries; escalate complex matters as needed.
• Monitor helpdesk tickets and triage/resolve issues relating to commercial; escalate when required.
• Coordinate contract processes across internal stakeholders including business operations, procurement and legal teams.
• Support procurement activities including supplier sourcing, due diligence and onboarding processes.
• Assist in commercial negotiations covering pricing, service levels and delivery terms.
• Contribute to process improvements to streamline workflows.
• Perform ad hoc duties as required.

Skills

Commercial contract management

Communication & influencing

Negotiation & administration

Procurement & sourcing

Multitasking & prioritisation

Independent & team work

Problem solving

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 ofequipment purchase,scientificservice(CROs)andsoftwarecontracts, including coordinating reviews andmaintainingcontract records.

• Supportand the fullcontract lifecycle activities,including renewals,ensuring key dates, milestonesand actions are tracked and communicated.

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

• Monitor Commercial Helpdesk tickets and review,triageand resolve where possible those relating tocommercial, escalating to other Operations Team members asrequired.

• Coordinatecontract processes acrossinternalstakeholdersincluding business operations,procurementandlegal teams.

• Support procurement activities including supplier sourcing, due diligence,evaluationand onboarding processes.

• Support commercial negotiationsincludingpricing, service levels, and delivery terms
  

• Contribute to process improvements by suggesting ways to streamline workflows.
  

• Ad hoc duties asrequired.

What are we looking for?

• Experienced in supporting commercial or contract management activities, ideally intheLife Sciences industry.

• Good communicationand influencing skills when working with internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience supporting the review, negotiation,administrationand 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

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 and take positive steps in your career.

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

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. Please contact [e-mail] or 0 20 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.