Senior Supplier Relationship Manager

Our Procurement function have an exciting opportunity to join them as a Senior Supplier Relationship Manager – Procurement on a 9 to 12 month fixed term contract.

Working in the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) team, this role will be responsible for creating and directing the strategy for partnership suppliers as well as achieving value to drive significant benefits to the group cost base, whilst ensuring quality and reliability of services provided by suppliers through the SRM.

The role holder will be working closely with suppliers, transferring commercial skills and knowledge whilst maintaining critical relationships. Driving great relationship outcomes and delivering incremental value, within either the IT, Payments, Risk or Financial Crime space. The person in role would bring their knowledge of current and evolving trends and knowledge of regulatory requirements in procurement to deliver great business outcomes.

This person in role will leadthe management of the Group’s suppliers, through a range of activities including directly managing key supplier relationships, advising internal stakeholders on strategies and tactics for the successful management of suppliers, acting as an escalation point for failing supplier relationships, creating plans for the improvement of supplier performance and working to exit suppliers where required. 

They will work with other colleagues in the Procurement Function to ensure the necessary SRM governance is included at the point of contracting, to ensure effective supplier relationship management is in place from the start of commercial relationships. Assessing and determining key objectives for the group within a particular supplier relationship and ensure that actions undertaken reflect these priorities will be key requirements.

The role holder has responsibility for ensuring SRM activity is undertaken across the organisation in line with agreed processes as well as the management and mentoring of more junior SRM colleagues.

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays and a holiday buy/sell scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Personal pension with matched contributions
• Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Extensive wellbeing support
• Life assurance (6 times annual salary)

Find out more about the fantastic benefits of joining Coventry Building Society here

This role can operate from either our Head Office campus in Coventry or our Manchester office. A team-led hybrid working arrangement is in place.

For this role you’ll already have experience in achieving major cost and value benefits in procurement, supplier management or contract management with excellent grounding in commercial relationships with third parties

To be successful in this role it’s essential you have:

• Significant experience working in a supplier relationship or procurement department at a senior level
• Current experience in supplier management, as well as a good understanding of how the full procurement cycle operates
• Experience in achieving major cost and value benefits in procurement, supplier management or contract management
• The ability to lead, motivate and engage teams and colleagues, as well as providing indirect or direct leadership
• Good communication skills a senior level with highly developed written, verbal and presentation skills
• Understanding of the commercial and regulatory considerations informing supplier relationship activity
• Significant experience of credibly managing and influencing a range internal and external stakeholders at different levels of seniority
• The ability to lead complex negotiations for valuable, high-risk, high-profile categories of spend

Desirable experience will be:

• Financial services
• Cross functional leadership
• A relevant qualification in this field (MCIPS), be working towards this or aspire to achieve this

We’re one of the largest building societies in the UK and we share a mutual goal across our branches and our offices to improve the lives of others.

We’re officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ and our benefits go beyond basic pay, with a discretionary bonus scheme, a culture of reward and recognition and comprehensive support for wellbeing.

At the beginning of the year, The Co-operative Bank officially became part of our Group. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers, and colleagues.

We’re serious about equality, of race, age, faith, disability, and sexual orientation and we celebrate diversity. By working together, we know you’ll build more than just a career with us.

All together, better.

Flexibility and why it matters

We understand the need for flexibility, so wherever possible, we’ll consider alternative working patterns. Have a chat with us before you apply to see what the possibilities are for this role. 

Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer

We’re proud to offer an interview or assessment to every disabled applicant who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As part of the application process, disabled applicants can opt in for the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. If there are ever occasions where it is not practicable to interview all candidates that meet the essential criteria, such as when we receive a high number of applications, we commit to interviewing disabled candidates who best meet the minimum essential and desirable criteria.