Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs. We accelerate the development of science, and where there are areas of unmet patient need, we stimulate innovation. By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over £1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery. Together, we can unlock new therapies, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation. If you are ready to make an impact, we invite you to be part of our journey. The values of the Catapult are: Excellence – we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence. Integrity – Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other. Community – We’re a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other. Innovation - We’re driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work. Role purpose: The Commercial Procurement Manager will lead and manage procurement activities across MDC, ensuring value for money, compliance, and operational efficiency. You will act as a trusted business partner to internal stakeholders—supporting scientific, commercial, and operational teams to deliver strategic outcomes through effective procurement and contract management. This role requires a balance of strategic insight and hands-on delivery, ensuring that procurement adds measurable value to MDC’s projects and partnerships. As we continue on a journey of simplifying and automating procurement the Commercial Procurement Manager will be needed to focus on hands-on delivery. Main duties and responsibilities: Business Partnering Collaborate with senior leaders and colleagues to understand commercial requirements and develop sourcing strategies that deliver best value and align with organisational objectives. Advise stakeholders on procurement policy, processes, and risk management. Procurement Strategy & Delivery Lead end-to-end procurement processes market engagement, tendering, negotiation, and contract award ensuring transparency and compliance. Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency through improved supplier management and category strategies. Ensure all procurement activities support MDC’s sustainability and social value goals. Contract Management: Oversee key supplier relationships and contracts, ensuring delivery against KPIs, performance standards, and value commitments. Manage contract renewals and negotiations to optimise commercial outcomes. Governance & Compliance Develop MDC’s procurement policies and internal controls to align with industry best practice and applicable UK legislation including the Procurement Act 2023. Ensure procurement policies and training are cascaded across the organisation with clear metrics to support adoption. Support audit and reporting requirements, ensuring documentation is robust and up to date. Maintain awareness of UK Government and public procurement regulations, applying best practice where relevant. Identify and document risks with clear mitigation strategies in place. Continuous Improvement Lead ongoing development of MDC’s procurement framework, tools, and templates to ensure simplified, understood and adopted processes. Drive adoption of digital procurement systems and process improvements to enhance efficiency and transparency. Leadership Lead, manage and develop the Procurement function and deliver value for money for the MDC. Ensure appropriate work planning and levels of resource are delivered to meet the requirements of the business. Develop and manage the Procurement function to support MDC objectives by promoting initiative, ownership, and open communication. Collaborate with other Catapults sharing best practice and in the development of cross-Catapult framework agreements for the benefit of all organisations. Essential qualifications, experience and knowledge: Proven experience of business partnering with diverse teams to deliver value for money and strategic outcomes through procurement. Strong commercial acumen, negotiation, and influencing skills. Excellent knowledge of contract management and supplier relationship management. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders effectively. Clear communicator with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Desirable qualifications, experience and knowledge: Experience of driving system and process improvement. Experience of managing a team. Experience within a public sector, research, or government-funded organisation. Familiarity with UK Procurement Act 2023 and government procurement frameworks. CIPS qualification (or working towards it). Knowledge of life sciences or research environments. Closing date: Friday 5th December 2025 Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.