Sub-Category Manager - Infrastructure

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

Join UCL's Commercial & Procurement team and help shape the university's future infrastructure. We're looking for a proactive and collaborative Sub-Category Manager (Estates Infrastructure) to play a key role in supporting UCL's Estates Infrastructure programme - including the delivery of our long-term Infrastructure Masterplan.

The Infrastructure Masterplan is a strategic, data-led roadmap that ensures our campuses remain safe, inclusive, sustainable, and fit for the future. It guides how we invest in our buildings to deliver the greatest benefit to the widest number of people. Over the next two years, UCL will invest £48.5 million in a mix of essential upgrades and ongoing maintenance - investment you'll directly help to shape through effective commercial and procurement leadership.

In this role, you'll partner closely with Estates, operational teams, and suppliers to deliver high-quality, value-for-money commercial solutions across a range of hard FM and infrastructure requirements. You'll manage tenders, contract negotiations, and supplier performance, lead on sub-category planning, and identify opportunities to innovate, streamline processes, and support sustainable outcomes.

This role also offers the opportunity to contribute to cross-functional projects that improve ways of working, enhance procurement effectiveness, and support the delivery of UCL's strategic estates priorities. It's a dynamic position for someone who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.

To broaden experience and foster collaboration, the sub-category manager role offers a unique job swap opportunity with the IT&Telecoms category team. This will allow the successful candidate to gain exposure to IT&Telecoms-related experience while sharing Estates expertise, enhancing career development and cross-functional knowledge.

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 - from Estates colleagues to operational teams and suppliers - building 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 written and verbal communication skills will be essential to your success.

Ideally, you'll have experience in large or decentralised organisations and an understanding of infrastructure, hard FM, or operations-related procurement. Above all, you'll be motivated by the opportunity to improve how a world-leading university invests in and manages its built environment. You'll be committed to delivering outstanding service, driving continuous improvement, and contributing to UCL's ambition to support 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.