Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
Commercial Operations Associate
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
£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?
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- 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
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.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
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.
How do I apply?
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.
For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
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 recruitment@cancer.org.uk 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.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills