Supplier Relationship Manager - Sustainability and Engagement in Manchester

The Supplier Relationship Manager will contribute to the formulation and delivery of the group's supplier management frameworks, strategies and policies through great supplier/contract management in order to gain value from the group supply base. The role holder will lead the delivery of effective supplier/contract management at the organisation with a particular emphasis on providing such support to large/strategic projects or spend areas where it is important that the organisation receives goods or services in line with previously agreed contractual commitments.

The role holder will be able to identify commitments/project deliverables referenced in contractual documentation and be able to explain these to stakeholders (both internal and external) as required. The role will be expected to engage with suppliers on contractual performance, as well as providing support on specific projects. There will be an expectation to be a source of expertise to the broader Supplier Relationship Management team on the creation and implementation of processes required to drive consistently high standards of supplier/contract management within the group.

The role holder may also be consulted at the contract negotiation stage to ensure a process of continuous improvement in such documentation is delivered. We operate on a team led hybrid approach with 1-2 days in the Coventry office and occasional travel to our Manchester office. This role is a specialist Supplier Relationship Management position with strategic ownership of our Sustainable Procurement initiatives.

The post holder will drive forward the Group Sustainable Procurement agenda, future proofing policies, processes, and governance, including the design, delivery and ongoing operational delivery of the group sustainable procurement strategy, leadership of the relevant working group, and supplier engagement activity that aligns to the wider organisational sustainability objectives.

This role also incorporates leading on supplier engagement activity both internally and externally, by designing and delivering initiatives that align suppliers to strategic business goals, including leading annual supplier awards, diversity and local supplier events, and community focused initiatives. In addition, the post-holder will be responsible for comprehensive reporting and performance tracking, demonstrating clear ownership and understanding of data, acting as the primary point of contact for stakeholder queries, management and education of our SRM Subject Matter Expert community and ensuring effective and appropriate engagement with external stakeholders across all ongoing SRM activities.

Our benefits include:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays and a holiday buy/sell scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Personal pension with matched contributions
• Life assurance (6 times annual salary)

About you

You'll be detail-oriented with the ability to absorb and process facts quickly. You'll be a subject matter expert in supplier/contract management with a good understanding of how the full procurement cycle including supplier management operates.

For this role you'll need to have:

• Ability to communicate effectively at a senior level with highly developed written, verbal and presentation skills
• Demonstrable ability to design and deliver initiatives that drive value and align to strategic objectives.
• Experience of leading cross functional working groups or governance forums.
• Strong ownership of reporting and data, with the ability to provide clear insight, and respond to stakeholder queries.
• Experience engaging and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Experience in these areas would be helpful:

• Proven experience in Supplier Relationship Management, Procurement, or a related commercial role.
• Knowledge of sustainability, ESG or responsible sourcing frameworks within procurement.
• Understanding of the commercial and regulatory considerations informing our supplier relationship activity.

About us

In 2025, Coventry Building Society purchased The Co-operative Bank. Bringing together our purpose-led building society with the UK's original ethical bank was the start of an exciting journey. Trusted by over four million people, we're a mutually owned business free from shareholders, and with our combined experience of almost 300 years, our ethics and dedication will continue to guide us. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers and colleagues. 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. 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.

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 meets 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.

Location: Coventry