At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage technology suppliers and ensure they meet performance and contractual obligations.
- Company: Join the Financial Times, a leading global news organisation known for integrity and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, medical coverage, gym discounts, and a hybrid working model.
- Other info: Diverse workplace with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a collaborative environment while developing your career in tech management.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing IT suppliers and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About Us
The Financial Times ranks among the top news organisations worldwide.
It is known for its authority, integrity, and accuracy.
Its mission is to provide quality information and services around the globe.
At the FT, curiosity flourishes and ambitious thinking is valued.
Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, produce work that matters and provide impartial journalism in a polarised world.
In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing.
Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you.
Without a set route, you’ll uncover new skills and build a career that can lead you anywhere.
Develop a newsworthy career at the FT.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We believe in the importance of diverse viewpoints and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued.
A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be authentic and perform to their full potential.
We are dedicated to eliminating obstacles for everyone, with particular attention to challenges encountered by underrepresented groups.
The Role
We are seeking a Technology Supplier & Contract Manager to assume responsibility for the operational management, governance, and commercial oversight of our key technology suppliers.
Reporting to the Project Portfolio Management Director within our Product & Technology organisation, you will make sure technology partners consistently meet contractual duties, service benchmarks, and business aims.
You will lead the operational management of strategic suppliers once contracts are awarded, promoting supplier performance, governance, and value maximisation during the supplier lifecycle.
You will collaborate extensively with Product & Technology, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and supplier delivery teams.
The goal is to develop supplier relationships, boost commercial outcomes, and uphold governance across software, Saa S, cloud, infrastructure, and managed service providers.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the day-to-day operations of strategic technology vendors and service providers.
- Develop and maintain supplier governance frameworks, performance scorecards and regular service review cadences.
- Build strong supplier relationships while holding vendors accountable for contractual commitments, targets and SLAs.
- Drive continuous improvement through performance reviews, service improvement plans and effective blocking issue management.
- Identify and mitigate supplier risks relating to operational delivery, security, compliance and financial performance.
- Own the operational lifecycle of technology contracts, including onboarding, renewals, extensions, service reviews and supplier exits.
- Maintain visibility of contract renewal dates, commercial obligations and termination windows.
- Partner with Procurement and Legal to support contract renewals, renegotiations and new supplier engagements.
- Find opportunities to optimise supplier spend, licensing models and commercial value across technology services.
- Support budgeting, forecasting and financial governance for third-party technology expenditure.
- Produce reporting on supplier performance, contract status, risks, renewals and financial exposure.
- Establish governance forums with internal collaborators and strategic suppliers.
- Assist with audit, regulatory, and third-party risk management activities.
- Strengthen supplier management procedures, controls, reporting, and governance standards within Product & Technology.
- Champion collaborative working, delivery excellence and continuous improvement.
- Required Skills and Experience
- Proven experience managing IT suppliers, vendor relationships, technology contracts or technology service management within a complex organisation.
- Strong understanding of supplier relationship management (SRM) principles and post-contract supplier governance.
- Experience working across enterprise technology environments, including Saa S, cloud platforms, infrastructure, software licensing, managed services and support agreements.
- Strong knowledge of contract governance, SLAs, benchmarks, service credits, supplier performance frameworks and operational governance.
- Ability to interpret contractual obligations and translate them into effective supplier management practices.
- Commercially aware, with experience directing supplier cost management, contract renewals, and value improvement projects.
- Excellent ability to manage collaborators, with the capability to build trusted relationships across Product & Technology, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Security and business teams.
- Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with confidence challenging suppliers constructively.
- Excellent analytical and organisational skills, including experience producing governance reports, managing risks and maintaining contract documentation.
- Experience identifying and mitigating supplier-related operational, financial, compliance and service risks.
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers, competing priorities and complex service environments.
- Experience developing governance forums and advancing supplier performance by means of formal review processes.
Desirable
- Experience working within an organisation centered around digital products or services.
- Knowledge of IT procurement and contract governance processes.
- Experience with third-party risk oversight and technology governance frameworks.
- Experience supporting commercial assessments and arguments for technology investments.
- Knowledge of software licensing frameworks and vendor commercial approaches.
What's in it for You?
Our benefits differ depending on location, but we are dedicated to offering top-tier perks at every office.
These include generous annual leave, medical coverage, inclusive parental leave packages, discounted gym memberships, and chances to contribute to the community.
Full details of our benefits are available here: https://aboutus. ft. com/careers/benefits.
We follow a 50% hybrid working model, with employees onsite two to three days per week.
This approach builds trust and supports remote adaptability.
It also encourages in-person camaraderie and peer learning.
We are open to flexible working pattern requests for all roles when possible.
Accessibility
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.
Please inform us if you need any reasonable adjustments or personalization during the application process or to assist you in attending an interview.
If you wish to talk about your needs or have any inquiries, email talent@ft. com and someone from our team will gladly assist you.
Further Information
At the FT, we encourage innovation and technology adoption.
We understand that candidates might bring AI tools into their application process.
Although using AI to help with your application is acceptable, ensuring that all submitted details are authentic and accurately show your skills, experience, and qualifications is crucial.
Candidates should be aware that the use of AI during the application process might be observed to guarantee a fair and transparent hiring experience for everyone.
Please watch out for fake job ads and offers pretending to be from the Financial Times.
Genuine openings will ask you to apply via the official Financial Times careers website.
The FT will never request financial details, payments, or referrals to outside parties during recruitment.
If you doubt a posting’s authenticity or suspect fraud, email talent@ft. com.
Interested in the FT but haven't found the right position yet? Join our Talent Community to get exclusive updates, featured jobs, and insights into working at the FT.
Technology Supplier & Contract Manager in London employer: Financial Times
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where curiosity and ambition are celebrated. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to diversity, employees can thrive in a culture that values unique perspectives and fosters collaboration. The flexibility of remote or hybrid working arrangements from Belfast or London, combined with a comprehensive benefits package, makes the FT an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in the legal field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technology Supplier & Contract Manager in London
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Financial Times values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Financial Times might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Financial Times!
✨Direct Apply to Financial Times
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Financial Times website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Technology Supplier & Contract Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Financial Times.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Financial Times. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Financial Times
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.