At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage supplier relationships, ensuring performance, compliance, and cost-efficiency.
- Company: Join Empowered, a leading IT services provider with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be a key player in driving sustainable supply chains and ethical sourcing.
- Qualifications: Experience in supplier management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
Overview
Job Title: Supplier Manager
Location: Hybrid (Office and Home Based)
Reports to: Head of Resourcing
Department: Operations
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure alignment with company objectives and values.
- Champion supplier diversity, sustainability, and ethical sourcing initiatives.
- Work closely with the pre-sales team to identify and shape opportunities, advising on delivery through the supplier network to maximise value and capability.
- Negotiate contracts, pricing, and service agreements in collaboration with the Head of Resourcing to achieve best value for the business.
- Provide ad-hoc support on projects requiring supplier engagement, commercial input, or process expertise.
- Collaborate with the Head of Delivery to monitor and evaluate supplier performance using KPIs, audits, and regular reviews.
- Identify and mitigate supplier risks, including financial, operational, security, and compliance risks.
- Implement and maintain internal processes and governance frameworks for managing staff and supplier security clearances, including tracking, renewal, and audit requirements.
- Collaborate with internal teams (procurement, operations, finance, quality, security, HR, IT, legal, and sustainability) to ensure smooth supplier integration and compliance with security, health and safety, and EDI protocols.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers to improve quality, delivery, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
- Maintain accurate supplier records, contracts, performance data, and security documentation.
- Keep up to date with market trends, new technologies, and best practices in supplier management, digital procurement, and security compliance.
- Develop and report on supplier KPIs, including quality, on-time delivery, compliance, and sustainability metrics.
- Support crisis management and business continuity planning related to supplier operations.
- Where applicable, meet suppliers on an ad-hoc basis across Empowered and OrderWork.
Qualifications & Experience
- Proven experience in supplier/vendor management, procurement, or supply chain management.
- Experience managing security clearances and implementing internal processes for controlled work is essential.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions.
- Knowledge of relevant legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
- Experience with supplier performance management systems, digital procurement platforms, and data analytics tools is desirable.
- Relevant professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, ISM) are an advantage.
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking and planning.
- Problem-solving and decision-making.
- Effective stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
- Attention to detail and organisational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
- Strong understanding of security processes, clearance management, and internal compliance procedures.
- Change management and adaptability.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in supplier engagement.
- Willingness to travel to meet suppliers.
Who We Are
Empowered is one of the leading, independent IT services enablement providers and a place where channel partner customers turn to solve their business challenges and drive enhanced value, with customised support and solutions.
Partnering across the industry, Empowered underpins some of the UK\'s largest IT transformation projects, by delivering the broadest range of bespoke outcome-based services and consultancy-led propositions.
Empowered helps its customers meet both their current challenges, as well as their successful journey into tomorrow. Exceptional customer experience is at the heart of the company\'s approach and by uniting the best people, processes, and expertise across the full IT lifecycle, Empowered\'s agility and flexibility supports customers by making it easy for them to scale their existing expertise and deliver more projects and services.
Currently empowered partners with over 250 of the leading IT providers throughout the UK and international markets, including system integrators and resellers, managed services providers, telecommunications providers, distributors, and consultancies.
Empowered is an equal opportunity employer and strongly supports diversity in the workplace
Supplier Manager in Dunstable employer: Empowered SMS
Empowered is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering hybrid working arrangements that promote work-life balance. With a strong commitment to employee growth, Empowered provides opportunities for professional development and encourages innovation in supplier management, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the IT services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supplier Manager in Dunstable
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Supplier Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its suppliers. Understand their values, sustainability initiatives, and how they manage supplier relationships. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your negotiation skills! Be ready to discuss past experiences where you’ve successfully negotiated contracts or improved supplier performance. Use specific examples to demonstrate your impact and value.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Supplier Manager in Dunstable
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Thoroughly:Before you dive into your application, take a good look at the job description. It’s packed with info about what we’re looking for in a Supplier Manager, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and qualifications.
Tailor Your Application:When you’re writing your application, don’t just send a generic one. We want to see how your experience aligns with our needs. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that match the role, especially around supplier management and compliance.
Showcase Your Soft Skills:We value strong communication and relationship management skills. Make sure to include examples of how you’ve successfully built relationships with suppliers or stakeholders in the past. This will help us see how you can fit into our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Once you’ve polished your application, head over to our website to submit it. It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the application process there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Empowered SMS
✨Know Your Suppliers
Before the interview, do your homework on the suppliers the company works with. Understand their values, sustainability practices, and any recent news about them. This will show that you’re genuinely interested in the role and can help you discuss how you would manage those relationships effectively.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations you've handled, especially those that resulted in cost savings or improved supplier performance. Be ready to discuss your approach to negotiating contracts and how you ensure compliance while achieving the best value for the business.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Thinking
Be prepared to talk about how you use data to drive decisions. Bring examples of how you've monitored supplier performance using KPIs or other metrics. This will highlight your analytical mindset and ability to interpret data effectively.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with various internal teams, think of examples where you successfully collaborated across departments. Discuss how you’ve managed stakeholder relationships and ensured smooth integration of suppliers into existing processes.
