Commercial Operations Manager 

Commercial Operations Management: 

• Oversee and improve end-to-end commercial operations, including processes and policies, lead management, forecasting, and reporting. 
• Create and maintain effective commercial dashboards. Analyse commercial data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for process optimisation, revenue growth and conversion rates. 
• Collaborate with commercial team to streamline administrative processes and enable focus on revenue generation 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement commercial tools, systems, and workflows. 
• Maintain our CRM system, ensuring accurate and timely recording of commercial activities, contracts, and related documentation. 
• Provide training and support to commercial team members and the wider organisation on tools, processes, and CRM. 
• Organise team meetings, strategy workshops, and learning and development activities. 
• Support template creation and bid writing/management, as necessary.  

Contract and Framework Management: 

• Lead contract review and support negotiation processes with clients and vendors, ensuring terms align with company interests and risk tolerance.  
• Analyse and evaluate commercial agreements, identifying potential risks and unfavourable terms requiring modification, which should be escalated to the Chief Commercial Officer. 
• Track and manage contracts and frameworks - including applications, review, and renewal cycle.  
• Collaborate with external legal counsel as necessary to ensure contract terms align with company policies, strategies, and compliance requirements. 
• Support development of IP strategies and routes to commercialisation. 
• Work closely with project managers to ensure smooth transition from contract signing to project initiation, making sure team members are aware of relevant contract terms. 

Collaboration and Communication: 

• Foster strong working relationships with the commercial team, technical team, operations, project managers, external legal counsel, company leaders, and other stakeholders. 
• Work closely with our Operations Manager to support effective short- and long-term resourcing strategies and to evolve our commercial quality management processes and policies. 
• Collaborate regularly and effectively with Marketing and BD to support efficiency and achievement of KPIs.  
• Communicate effectively with partners and clients where necessary. 

Necessary qualifications, skills and experience: 

• Degree in a technical field, business administration, marketing, or related. 
• At least three years of professional experience in commercial or sales operations management, business development or similar, preferably in a consultancy or professional services environment. 
• Demonstrated success in implementing and optimising commercial processes and CRM systems. 
• Strong analytical skills with experience in commercial performance metrics. 
• Strong understanding of Smith Institute business and the benefits of applying advanced mathematics, data science, and AI techniques to real world challenges. 
• Teamwork, multi-tasking, and distributed working. 

Experience in some but not all of the following would also be expected:

• CRM usage and development, particularly Hubspot. 
• Proven track record in commercial contract management and negotiation, with demonstrated ability to secure favourable terms. 
• Strong understanding of commercial law principles and contractual liability. 
• Experience in risk assessment and mitigation strategies within commercial agreements. 

• Flexible working for all – work your contracted hours at times that best suit you and our customers, at home, in the office or as a mixture of both 
• Health and well-being support – Smith Institute provides up to three months’ contractual sick pay, have qualified Mental Health First Aiders, a Mindful Employer Plus membership and offer additional leave allowance to care for close family members 
• Social events – most months our Social Committee organise events and we also have ongoing activities, including pub socials, a book club, a fantasy football league and a board games library 
• Employee benefits – employee discount platform and Employee assistance programme 
• Enhanced leave – bereavement, dependency, maternity, paternity & shared parental leave 
• Mentoring – from colleagues and leading academics 
• Generous pension scheme with Life Assurance and income protection 
• All IT equipment provided and maintained 
• Interesting and challenging work with purpose 

We operate an Equal Opportunities Policy. We currently have a rolling recruitment programme so applications will be reviewed as they are received, with a view to interviewing selected candidates when sufficient numbers are shortlisted. We hope to make appointments as soon as possible thereafter.