Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts and Finance Manager

Job description

Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts and Finance Manager JDPS.docx – 1917KB Opens in a new window

Converted File Research and Knowledge Exchange Contracts and Finance Manager JDPS.docx.pdf – 402KB Opens in a new window

The opportunity

[Employer hidden] is seeking a commercially astute Contracts & Finance Manager to strengthen financial control, governance and structured delivery across a growing portfolio of industry partnerships, consultancy and executive education activity.

This is a pivotal operational role within the Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) function, responsible for ensuring that commercial activity is financially robust, contractually sound, risk-managed and delivered through disciplined project management processes.

LCF’s Knowledge Exchange portfolio is expanding across consultancy, executive education, funded programmes and strategic partnerships. We require a commercially focused professional who can bring financial rigour, governance oversight and structured project delivery to a complex and multi-stakeholder environment.

You will play a central role in embedding project management discipline across the portfolio ensuring projects are scoped appropriately, financially viable, risk assessed, actively monitored and evaluated post-delivery.

About you

We are seeking a commercially disciplined professional with experience in budgeting, raising contracts, operations, project management, analysis and evaluation.

You will demonstrate:

• Strong financial analysis capability, including forecasting and performance tracking.
• Demonstrable project management experience across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Experience overseeing full project lifecycles, from scoping and risk assessment through to evaluation.
• Experience maintaining risk registers and operating within governance frameworks.
• Experience conducting financial and reputational due diligence.
• Experience producing structured post-project reporting and impact analysis.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable CRM systems.
• Strong analytical judgement, organisational discipline and attention to detail.
• Confidence operating in a regulated and compliance-driven environment.

Private-sector candidates from commercial operations, consultancy, professional services, research management or partnership-led organisations are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please contact [contact hidden]

Application process

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Thus, you will need to create an account and submit an application through our job board. As part of this, you will need to provide a supporting statement to demonstrate your suitability. Our recruitment process involves: application, shortlisting, assessment/interview, offer, onboarding.

We understand the benefits of using AI in work. But, if you are thinking of using it to submit an application, we ask you to think about what value it adds. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as this vacancy may close early if we receive a high level of interest. We will aim to give at least 24 hours' notice of any changes to the closing date.

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ 34 days of annual leave and 2 days off to volunteer plus bank holidays

▪ Flexible and Dynamic working options available from the first day

▪ Discounted Medical Insurance including Digital GP service, therapies, in-patient and day-case treatment

▪ Free counselling and advice via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

▪ Sector-leading Equal Parental Leave policy (6 months full pay for both parents)

▪ Defined-benefit LGPS pension scheme

▪ In-house training and development including apprenticeships and free places on creative courses

▪ Interest free loans on travel and tech, discounts on gym memberships, nursery fees, eye care and much more

▪ Various opportunities to attend student shows and exhibitions

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University, we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, [Employer hidden] and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That's why we are proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter (REC), are members of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers, and maintain our status as a Disability Confident Scheme and Living Wage employer.

Please read through our FAQs and Our process pages before applying.

Because the world needs creativity

Contact us

Privacy notice

Cookie policy

Accessibility statement

Application form information

UAL main site

© 2024 University of the Arts London. All Rights Reserved.