Ref Number
B01-05583
Professional Expertise
Administration and Business Support
Department
Vice-President (Operations) (B01)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£31,904-£35,575
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
Hybrid
Available for Secondment
Yes
Closing Date
09-Jul-2026
University College London (UCL) is one of the world's leading universities, renowned for its pioneering spirit, global impact and commitment to driving positive change. Home to over 50,000 students and 18,000 staff, UCL combines world-class research, education and innovation with an ambitious vision for the future.
Our Commercial & Procurement function has undergone significant transformation and is now recognised as a strategic enabler of the University's objectives. Operating at the heart of decision-making, the team delivers commercial excellence, drives value, manages risk and supports some of the most ambitious programmes across the institution.
As part of our continued evolution, we are seeking an exceptional commercial leader to shape and lead procurement and supply chain strategy across our Estates Development portfolio, supporting one of the largest and most complex capital investment programmes in the higher education sector. This opportunity is based on UCL's significant estates development spend, which includes major construction, refurbishment, infrastructure and property initiatives.
Please note this is a sixth month fixed-term contract.
University College London (UCL) is one of the world's leading universities, renowned for its pioneering spirit, global impact and commitment to driving positive change. Home to over 50,000 students and 18,000 staff, UCL combines world-class research, education and innovation with an ambitious vision for the future.
Our Commercial & Procurement function has undergone significant transformation and is now recognised as a strategic enabler of the University's objectives. Operating at the heart of decision-making, the team delivers commercial excellence, drives value, manages risk and supports some of the most ambitious programmes across the institution.
As part of our continued evolution, we are seeking an exceptional commercial leader to shape and lead procurement and supply chain strategy across our Estates Development portfolio, supporting one of the largest and most complex capital investment programmes in the higher education sector. This opportunity is based on UCL's significant estates development spend, which includes major construction, refurbishment, infrastructure and property initiatives.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Commercial & Procurement, the Director of Supply Chain – Estates Development will lead the commercial strategy, procurement delivery and supply chain performance across UCL's capital projects and estates development portfolio.
This is a highly visible leadership role operating at executive level, partnering closely with senior stakeholders across Estates, Finance and the wider University. You will play a critical role in shaping long-term commercial strategies, supporting major investment decisions and ensuring best-in-class procurement and supply chain outcomes across a diverse portfolio of construction, infrastructure, refurbishment and professional services spend.
Leading a specialist team, you will drive commercial excellence across the full project lifecycle, from strategic sourcing and contract delivery through to supplier performance, risk management and innovation. You will also contribute to broader organisational transformation, helping to establish a centre of excellence for estates procurement and supply chain management.
This role offers the opportunity to influence projects of significant scale and complexity, delivering lasting impact across one of the UK's most prestigious institutions.
You are an accomplished commercial, procurement or supply chain leader with a track record of delivering successful outcomes across major capital projects, construction programmes and complex estates portfolios.
You will bring extensive experience of operating within large, sophisticated organisations where stakeholder engagement, governance and strategic influence are critical to success. Whether gained within higher education, property development, infrastructure, engineering, utilities, transport or other major project environments, you will have successfully led commercial teams supporting high-value construction and development programmes.
You will possess deep expertise in construction procurement, contracting and delivery models, including strong knowledge of NEC and JCT forms of contract. Equally important is your ability to build credibility with executive stakeholders, influence strategic decision-making and lead high-performing teams through change and transformation.
We are looking for a commercially astute, collaborative and forward-thinking leader who can combine strategic vision with operational delivery, bringing innovation, resilience and a commitment to excellence in everything they do.
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/rewards-and-benefits to find out more
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; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
