Director of Supply Chain - Estates Development
| Posting date: | 29 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £90,000 to £118,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 May 2026 |
| Location: | London, London, WC1H 9BT |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | University College London |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B28-00237_1777471951 |
Summary
About us
At University College London (UCL), we do things differently. Founded in 1826 as London's global university, we were the first in England to welcome students regardless of religion and the first to admit women on equal terms. Today, we are a diverse and inclusive community of over 50,000 students and 18,000 staff, united by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and impact.
Ranked among the top universities globally for research power, UCL tackles some of the world's most pressing challenges-from climate change and global health to social inequality and technological advancement. Our Commercial & Procurement function plays a critical role in enabling this impact, evolving into a strategic partner that drives value, manages risk, and strengthens our global reputation.
About the role
This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and lead the Estates Development supply chain at UCL. As Director of Supply Chain - Estates Development, you will play a pivotal role in delivering a complex and high-value portfolio of approximately £200m per year, spanning construction, refurbishment, consultancy, and asset management.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Commercial & Procurement, you will be responsible for building and leading a high-performing team, while acting as a strategic partner to the Estates function. You will lead major sourcing activities, oversee supplier performance, and ensure that commercial strategies deliver maximum value and impact.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will help define and execute the Estates Supply Chain strategy, contribute to governance and decision-making forums, and drive continuous improvement across the function. This is a highly visible role requiring strong leadership, commercial expertise, and the ability to influence at the highest levels.
Please note salary is dependant on candidate experience.
About you
You are an experienced commercial leader with a strong track record of delivering results in complex, matrixed environments. You bring deep expertise in procurement across major construction, engineering, or infrastructure categories, with a strong understanding of contracting models such as JCT and NEC.
A confident and credible leader, you have the ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams, while driving change and transformation at pace. You are equally comfortable operating strategically and getting hands-on when needed, particularly when navigating complex supplier landscapes or resolving challenges.
You excel at stakeholder engagement, able to communicate complex ideas clearly and influence senior leaders. You bring a forward-thinking mindset, with a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive practices, and are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an organisation with global impact.
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/rewards-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.