Job Description

About us
At University College London (UCL), we are proud to be recognised as London's Global University -- a world-leading institution that combines pioneering research, innovative teaching, and a diverse community of over 51,000 students and 18,000 staff from more than 150 countries.
Our Commercial & Procurement function plays a key role in supporting UCL's strategic ambitions and long-term financial sustainability. With an annual spend of over 900 million, the team ensures that every procurement decision delivers value for money, drives innovation, and supports UCL's Sustainable Procurement Strategy.
We work collaboratively across the university to ensure that our partnerships, sourcing strategies, and supplier relationships help UCL achieve its mission -- advancing knowledge, addressing global challenges, and creating positive social impact. Joining our team means contributing to a culture of excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement within one of the UK's most dynamic higher education environments.
About the role
As a Sub-Category Manager (Infrastructure), you'll play a pivotal role in delivering effective procurement and commercial solutions across UCL's Infrastructure and Operations category. You'll manage projects and workstreams that directly support the university's strategic and operational objectives, ensuring procurement activity delivers value for money, efficiency, and sustainability.
Your work will involve building strong relationships with stakeholders, understanding their requirements, and developing robust sub-category plans that deliver measurable savings and process improvements. You'll lead on tendering, contract negotiation, supplier performance management, and reporting, ensuring all procurement activities comply with UCL's governance and sustainability standards.
This role also offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative, cross-functional projects that improve ways of working, streamline operations, and enhance the effectiveness of UCL's Commercial & Procurement function. It's a dynamic position for someone who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.
About you
You are a proactive and commercially astute professional with a strong understanding of procurement, supplier management, and value-driven commercial practices. You bring excellent organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to achieving results in a complex and fast-moving environment.
You'll have the confidence to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, developing trusted relationships and providing sound commercial advice. You're experienced in managing procurement processes, negotiating with suppliers, and using data to inform decision-making. Advanced Excel and strong communication skills (both written and verbal) will be essential to your success.
Ideally, you'll have experience in large or decentralised organisations and an understanding of infrastructure or operations-related procurement. Above all, you'll be committed to delivering outstanding service, continuously improving processes, and contributing to UCL's ambition to deliver world-leading teaching and research through efficient, sustainable procurement practices.
What we offer
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/reward-and-benefits to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Available documents

Skills Required