Simon J.
About me
| Simon J. | |
| Economics and Related Studies | |
| Economics & Finance | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2003 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Contract & Commercial Manager | |
| Greiner Bio-One | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Engineering and manufacturing | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2021 |
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A day in the life of a Contract & Commercial Manager in the United Kingdom
I would like to help drive operational changes that make my organisation operate in a more sustainable way for future generations.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Greiner Bio-One is a global player in the biotechnology field, the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries, and the medical and in-vitro diagnostic areas. We manufacture and distribute Medical Devices and Life Science products and our portfolio is marketed in over 100 countries worldwide.
What do you do?
I lead the Contract Management function within the UK operation overseeing the contracting life cycle and supporting both internal and external stakeholders meet their commercial or value objectives.
I adviser Business Unit Leaders and Sales Teams on Pricing Strategy, Public Procurement and Commercial Management principles.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
Focusing on economic principles and qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes, although it is linked to finance which is the area I thought I would end up in.
Describe your most memorable day at work
Being part of a Team that successfully won a national contract worth £680m.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Yes, we sell primarily to the Public Sector (NHS Hospitals & Universities) and have to operate within the Public Procurement regime. In addition, our Medical Device products are heavy regulated to ensure they are safe for patient use.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
Flexible and Positive. The organization has embraced flexible working within the UK and embraces an inclusive mindset.
Our a manufacturing of plastic - a hot topic for an environmental perspective, but rather than ignore or divert from this fact, we are trying to position ourselves as a driving force to make industry wide changes. We are focused on delivering our Blue Plan Strategy (Sustainability Strategy) that will see us Carbon Neutral by 2030:
1) We will Fight Climate Changes
2) We will become a fully Circular Business
3) We will Empower (train) People to make the right sustainable choices in the future
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was the Sports Rep for Halifax College in the first year of the colleges creation. This meant that I had to represent my college and also manage and select members of Halifax College to represent us in the College Sports.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I would like to help drive operational changes that make my organisation operate in a more sustainable way for future generations.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Try and equip yourself with core skills/experience that differentiate you from others and keep evolving through you career. Communication skills are also very important, the best people not only deliver work, but communicate it effectively to their stakeholders and peers.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Open to all topics, but more focused on:
- People management
- Interviews from an Employers perspective
- Finance & Commercial Roles
- Further Qualifications like Accountancy/Law
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
I am a people manager (managing teams of between 1- 25 throughout my career).
I am a qualified Accountant and have worked in Finance, Sales and Commercial departments.
Next steps...
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