Strategic Supplier Manager - C&P

Overview

Lead supplier management and commercial strategy for Network Rail's infrastructure portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• supplier management
• contract performance
• risk mitigation
• cost savings
• governance oversight
• team leadership

Tasks

-Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and act as the primary escalation point for strategic supplier issues. -Establish a collaborative way of working with suppliers, relevant customers and stakeholders to drive the fullest overall cost, risk, relationship and performance value.Support the operational owners of the contracts in their day-to-day accountabilities with their supplier/s.Regular engagement with the Procurement and Category Management teams to effectively manage future pipeline activities and joint development of strategies. -Oversee transparent and well managed supplier performance, ensuring compliance with contracts and regulations. -Oversee transparent and well managed supplier mobilisation and contract performance, ensuring cross-functional alignment, customer satisfaction and learnings. -Drive innovation and value: Lead the collaboration with internal stakeholders and suppliers to find opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement, and innovation.Delivery of on-going and significant savings throughout the contract and relationship life cycle, underpinned by leadership of incremental cost, service and overall value derivation. -Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including financial, operational, safety and performance risks. -Ensure optimal distribution of workload and resources across the supplier management team, to enable deliver of key priorities with adaptability and agility. -Oversee the team’s adherence to the C&P Policy and all associated corporate governance / assurance for the infrastructure portfolio -Lead, mentor, and develop supplier managers / supplier contract specialists to enhance capability, performance, resilience and team engagement.Identify skill gaps, provide training, and prepare future leaders within the team. -Leadership of the national Infrastructure supplier portfolio, utilising the full implementation of the Procurement Management Framework (PMF) and the Commercial Management Framework (CMF), to include the development of supplier joint account plans, claims management, savings and continuous improvement targets, relationship development modelling whilst meeting all contract, regulatory, risk-reward and exit strategy requirements

Requirements

• mcips
• uk rail
• supplier management
• problem solving
• demand management
• line management

What You Bring

-Politically aware, with the ability to use direct and indirect influencing strategies -Identification of evolving business requirements throughout the contract and relationship life cycle, to include contract change and demand management activities -Relationship, cost, risk and value led, with the ability to deliver significant defined relationship and commercial value -Demonstrable level of problem-solving experience and in large, complex organisations -The ability to manage multiple programmes, targets and priorities, whilst demonstrating strong levels of resilience under pressure and adaptability -Experience of leading supplier contracts and relationships with senior level engagement -Solution driven, innovator, cost and value led -Recognised for their Supplier Management expertise, providing specialist advice to the team and wider stakeholders. -Educated to a degree standard or equivalent and MCIPS qualified (or equivalent professional body with chartered status) -Experience with cross-functional collaborative working methods -Detailed knowledge of the UK Rail Industry, including procurement processes in a reclassified environment -Line management experience, with evidence of building high performing teams

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About Network Rail

-Responsible for managing the country’s railway infrastructure, playing a vital role in the UK's transport system. -Ensures the safe passage of trains through its management of critical railway assets. -Origins date back to 2002, when the rail infrastructure was brought into public ownership. -Based in Milton Keynes, it is a crucial player in delivering major transportation projects. -Typical projects include track renewal, station modernization, and large-scale electrification efforts. -Oversees one of the world’s most complex and busiest rail networks, with significant investment in improving connectivity across the UK. -Focuses on maintaining safety and operational efficiency through cutting-edge technology and engineering solutions. -Collaborates with train operators and local authorities to ensure seamless travel experiences for passengers. -Delivers the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, set to revolutionize rail travel in the UK. -Committed to improving sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of rail transport.

Sector Specialisms

Interview Process

-interviews will be held on 9th and 10th december 2025.

Security Clearance

-offers are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks. -some roles may require face‑to‑face drugs and alcohol testing.