UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

Finance and Corporate Services

Our Finance and Corporate Services business unit is a fusion of multiple functions including legal and compliance, along with— financial planning and accounting, facilities and building management, procurement, programme and project management, corporate governance, information governance and performance, organisational development and enterprise architecture.

The Finance Team also defines UCAS' financial strategy

As a Commercial Manager you’ll be responsible for leading on the commercial aspects of complex procurements – ensuring appropriate sourcing strategies are utilised to fulfil business needs. You’ll work closely with our third-party suppliers to improve service delivery and you’ll contribute to the continuous improvement of our internal commercial processes.

 
What we’re looking for

• Broad range of exposure to various technical environments and business areas
• Proven background with tendering requirements from conception through to contract delivery and award, and subsequent effective relationship management
• Solid experience of working in a Procurement Management team within a larger matrix management structure
• A strategic thinker focused on delivering business results utilising technical solutions

• Degree qualified or equivalent in a business-related subject.
• CIPS qualified or working towards.
• Solid experience of working in a Procurement Management team within a larger matrix management structure.
• Fully conversant with tendering requirements from conception through to contract delivery and award, through to effective relationship management.
• Capability to research markets to understand the internal and external influences to guide best practice procurements.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and eProcurement tools.
• Experience of liaising with Executive Directors and Senior Managers.
• Possess strong interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
• Comfortable working under pressure and within strict deadlines.
• Possess a broad range of exposure to various technical environments and business areas.
• Possess strong business acumen.
• Possess superior influencing skills - able to influence and motivate others using personal rather than positional power.
• Ability to set expectation with IT and effectively leverage governance for a positive technology experience.
• Strategic thinker focused on business value results that utilise technical solutions.
• Experienced people leader, able to develop, motivate and drive team performance.

Salary - up to £53,000 

• 30 days annual leave ( plus 3 concessionary days over Christmas and your bank holidays!)
• Flexibility – UCAS positively supports Hybrid working for its employees, meaning you can work between home and the office in a way that suits you and the business and also has a comprehensive Flexible Working Policy
• A generous pension scheme
• Hundreds of high street discounts and offers with Perkbox
• Internal training and development
• Subsidised gym and café
• Be rewarded for going above and beyond with our ex gratia bonus scheme and Celebrating U, our quarterly employee recognition scheme