Position Summary
Why join our team?
This is a senior and strategic role at the commercial core of Samsung’s UK Operator partnerships. With direct impact on a trading portfolio exceeding £1.5B annually, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape how Samsung builds long-term value with the UK’s most important telecoms partners, while influencing commercial structures across the wider European ecosystem.
The Head of Commercial – Operator Strategy & Frameworks will serve as the commercial authority on all long-term Operator Supply and Trading Agreements in the UK. This role is integral to Samsung’s commercial architecture and will define how we scale, protect, and optimise our operator channel in one of the world’s most complex and high-value telecoms markets. This senior leader will be responsible for shaping Samsung’s commercial position with UK mobile network operators (EE, VDF3, O2) – ensuring each agreement reflects our growth ambitions, governance standards, and investment thresholds.
The successful candidate will be the go-to leader for high-stakes commercial decision-making and long-range strategic contract planning across the operator landscape.
This role demands exceptional commercial acumen, partner influence, and contractual precision, and will work in close partnership with Sales, Legal, Finance, SCM, and Global HQ.
Role and Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities
1. Commercial Strategy & Leadership
2. Define and lead Samsung’s overarching commercial strategy across Operator Framework Agreements, ensuring long-term alignment to revenue and margin goals.
3. Represent Samsung UK in executive-level negotiations with Operator commercial, finance, and legal leads.
4. Translate strategic objectives into actionable commercial constructs (e.g., subsidy schemes, sell-in forecasts, multi-year growth corridors).
5. Partner with Product and HQ teams to build contractual models that reflect Samsung’s investment logic and lifecycle profitability.
6. COMPLEX CONTRACT STRUCTURING
7. Lead the drafting, redline, and approval of Operator Supply Agreements, including volume-based incentives, exclusivity clauses, and ecosystem bundling.
8. Develop best-in-class commercial templates and playbooks to support multi-year commercial engagements.
9. Navigate complex risk and compliance landscapes while protecting Samsung’s operational flexibility.
10. Establish formal sign-off structures in collaboration with Legal and Finance for all major agreements.
STRATEGIC PARTNERING & INTERNAL GOVERNANCE
11. Act as a senior commercial adviser to the Head of Sales, Sales Directors, and CFO on Operator negotiations.
12. Lead alignment forums with Legal, Finance, SCM, and Commercial Excellence on Operator strategy and framework planning.
13. Guide internal commercial teams on structuring scalable and compliant offers.
14. Chair Samsung’s internal Contract Review Forum for Operator Agreements.
15. Risk, Compliance & Portfolio Optimisation
16. Own the risk management framework for all operator trading contracts.
17. Proactively assess commercial risks and implement mitigations ahead of audits or critical issues.
18. Lead annual reviews of supply frameworks and performance clauses, optimising for market changes.
19. Ensure full compliance with Samsung’s Delegation of Authority and HQ audit standards.
What we need for this role
To be successful, you will possess the following skills and attributes:
Essential:
20. Demonstrated ability in commercial leadership roles within telecoms, OEM, or operator environments.
21. Proven track record negotiating high-value, multi-year supply or trading agreements at C-level.
22. Expert-level understanding of mobile commercial economics – from subsidy models to volume rebates to attach incentives.
23. Strong command of UK operator structures, funding mechanics, and compliance sensitivities.
24. Exceptional collaborator, influencing skills – able to align Legal, Finance, Sales and external partners.
25. High proficiency in Excel modelling, scenario planning, and contract management systems.
Preferred:
26. Background in a global tech brand or Tier-1 operator with matrix experience.
27. Familiarity with UK and EU competition law, device financing schemes, and promotional funding.
28. Exposure to executive governance processes and investment committee frameworks.
Leadership Attributes
29. Strategic problem solver with ability to distil complexity into clear commercial actions.
30. Gravitas and credibility in front of senior partners and internal executives.
31. Resilient under pressure; thrives in high-stakes, high-complexity deal environments.
32. Transparent, collaborative, and committed to upholding Samsung’s ethical and compliance standards.
Skills and Qualifications
Benefits of working at Samsung include
33. Hybrid working – 3 days in the office and 2 days at home per week
34. Bonus scheme linked to individual, team and company performance
35. Car allowance
36. Pension contribution
37. Three volunteering days each year
38. Holiday - 25 days plus bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday
39. Access to discounts on a wide range of Samsung products
40. Access to a discount shopping portal
41. Partner Colleagues are not eligible for Samsung Enhanced Paid Sick Leave but may be eligible for statutory payments from their payroll agency
42. Up to 20 (pro-rata) Partner Absence days per calendar year to be used in times of need
A note on equal opportunities
We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our Company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
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