At FutureLearn, we’re passionate about the power of lifelong learning. We help learners from all over the world progress in their careers – and invest in their futures.
We truly believe that up-skilling is a worthy investment, and we hope to empower our learners to take control of their careers through personalised learning pathways – giving them progress at their fingertips.
Partnering with 260+ world-class educational partners, including prestigious universities, global brands and industry partners, we offer our 18 million-strong learner community the opportunity to discover and access flexible, high-quality online courses and degrees.
We’re not here just to teach new skills (although we do that well), we want to help transform lives. FutureLearn is looking to build our teams with people who share our passion for lifelong learning, career empowerment and education for all. If that sounds like you, get in touch. You could help us achieve our biggest goal yet – becoming the world’s best AI-powered, career-based learning platform and OPM.
What is the opportunity?
We’re looking to hire an enthusiastic and organised Contracts and Operations Manager to support a wide range of responsibilities related to drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements with our partners and suppliers. The role will also include coordinating, helping administer and improve FutureLearn’s contracts systems and operational processes.
Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will help our group legal team support FutureLearn’s growth and long-term success and the contract needs of other teams across the organisation (including partnerships, finance and product teams). This role will engage with all levels of employees and management, so strong communication skills and cultural intelligence are key to cultivating strong working relationships.
What does success look like:
Paralegal
- Serve as the main point of contact for external stakeholders and internal teams on contractual matters across the business, acting as a contractual intermediary between the legal team and external parties, ensuring timely review and approval of contract documents
- Assist the legal team with drafting, reviewing, proofreading, editing and negotiating commercial documents, including NDAs, partnership agreements, supply of services agreements, MOUs, vendor and supplier forms, purchase orders, and various other standard and bespoke agreements as required
- Assist the legal team in the preparation, implementation, and refinement of forms, guidance documents, systems, processes, and procedures, as well as team meetings, agenda planning and case management
- Provide red-line recommendations and responses on standard and non-standard documentation, and negotiate directly with partners until consensus on commercial items has been reached
- Take charge of managing and improving the administrative aspects of contracts, including organising signature, distribution to all parties, filing and maintenance of contractual records
- Ensure contract close-out, extension or renewal
- Perform high level legal, factual and records research, identify relevant judicial decisions, statutes, legal articles, and other pertinent material
Operations
- Assist in managing daily operations within the legal and finance teams
- Oversee operational and project management, including planning, identifying dependencies, addressing areas for improvement, and mitigating risks while working cross-functionally with other team members
- Perform modelling and analysis as needed
- Create and maintain comprehensive databases, reports, and spreadsheets on organisational metrics, financials, and other related information
- Drive cost-saving projects related to process efficiencies, suppliers, and systems, focusing on cost reduction
- Manage communications and correspondence between the legal and finance teams to ensure smooth operations
- Collaborate with other team members to identify and resolve issues or concerns
What you will bring to the role:
- Sound knowledge of commercial law and the legal system.
- High level of discretion with confidential matters.
- Demonstrated experience in negotiating, drafting, and managing contracts; experience in a partnerships, legal, or sales team in a start-up environment preferred.
- Familiarity with digital document management and filing systems.
- Excellent research skills.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage senior-level internal and external stakeholders.
- Entrepreneurial drive and comfort working in ambiguous, quickly-changing environments.
- Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to understand and empathise with others.
- Excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail
- Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities of varying difficulty and complexity within a short turnaround time
- Strong project management skills
- Excellent modelling capabilities
- Proficiency in creating and maintaining complex databases, reports, and spreadsheets
- Ability to work cross-functionally
- Experience with cost-saving initiatives and process improvement projects
- Knowledge of legal and financial operations is a plus
- Passion for education and continuous learning
What we will offer you:
- 28 days of Annual Leave plus UK Public Holidays
- Roll over up to 5 days Holiday
- Access to FutureLearn courses
- Westfield Health Cash Plan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Season Ticket Loan
- Charity work – 1 day dedicated to a charity of your choice
- Calm Premium Subscription
What happens next?
Ready to go for it? Click 'Apply', include your CV and tell us why you'd like to become a FutureLearner, and how you’ll nail this role.
Recruitment Process
Please contact [email protected] if you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations to be made to support you through the recruitment process.
Diversity Statement
We value all the great benefits that diversity brings and encourage everyone to bring their whole self to work – At FutureLearn we are proud to have Diversity and Inclusion at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to Equal Employment Opportunity regardless of race, colour, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.
We can't wait to meet you! #FutureLearnCareers
