At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage IT suppliers and ensure successful delivery of CRM projects.
- Company: Join First Customer Contact, part of FirstGroup, a leading transport operator.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, free bus travel, discounted train fares, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Located in Sheffield city centre with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while enhancing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in vendor management and IT project delivery, ideally with CRM platforms.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Who are we? First Customer Contact is part of FirstGroup, one of the leading rail operators and one of the largest bus operators in the UK. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.
About the job: The IT Project & Supplier Manager is accountable for the governance, performance, and delivery assurance of key IT suppliers supporting FCC’s customer platforms, with a primary focus on CRM technologies including Salesforce Service Cloud. The role ensures that suppliers deliver against agreed scope, cost, quality, and timelines, while maintaining alignment with FCC’s governance, compliance, and strategic objectives. The role plays a critical part in improving delivery predictability, strengthening commercial control, and ensuring that technology investments deliver measurable business value.
Your Responsibilities:
- Manage third‑party suppliers, ensuring strong performance, contract compliance and value for money.
- Review and challenge SOWs, change requests and proposals to prevent scope creep.
- Monitor supplier and project performance, using insights to drive continuous improvement.
- Maintain clear RAID management across all initiatives.
- Lead end‑to‑end delivery of IT projects, ensuring operational, safety and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee integration of new systems into existing environments while maintaining stability and resilience.
- Uphold project governance, including reporting, financial oversight and risk management.
- Ensure all changes follow internal governance, CAB processes and release controls.
- Support compliance activities such as DPIAs, security reviews and audits.
- Oversee CRM platform performance and vendor relationships, ensuring stability and ongoing improvement.
- Promote knowledge sharing and effective adoption of new systems and processes.
- Lead and develop CRM team members to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
- Build strong relationships across technical and operational teams to ensure alignment and successful delivery.
- Champion agile ways of working and continuous improvement.
As a minimum you will need:
- Strong third‑party vendor and supplier management experience.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and assess performance.
- Good understanding of IT governance, risk, change control and integration including RAID management, milestone tracking, and reporting.
- Experience working in agile delivery environments.
- Background working in complex, regulated or safety‑critical environments.
- Proven experience delivering IT projects end‑to‑end.
- Experience working with CRM platforms, ideally Salesforce Service Cloud or similar.
- Confident managing CRM systems and CRM suppliers.
- Skilled in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Strong leadership qualities with the ability to guide teams.
- Self‑driven, proactive and able to work independently.
- Professional certifications (PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum, ITIL) are desirable but not essential.
About the location: Sheffield city centre. Ten minutes’ walk from Sheffield Station. Travel to other UK locations as appropriate.
Benefits: We believe great work deserves great rewards. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your lifestyle, well‑being, and future:
- Competitive Pay - We offer a salary that reflects your skills, experience, and the valuable contribution you’ll make to our team.
- Free Bus Travel – Complimentary travel on FirstGroup buses for you after 1 month of service.
- Discounted Train Travel – Enjoy all day travel for you, friends and family for as little as £6 across Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, TPE (from £10) and Lumo after 6 months of service.
- Generous Holiday Allowance – 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays.
- Pension Scheme – Contributory pension plan with the opportunity to invest in discounted FirstGroup shares through a SAYE scheme.
- First Xclusives Discount Scheme – Unlock over 3,000 deals on high street brands, cinema tickets, flights, holidays, and more.
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme - Confidential support whenever you need it, because your wellbeing matters.
IT Project & Supplier Manager employer: FirstGroup Internal
First Customer Contact, part of FirstGroup, is an exceptional employer located in the heart of Sheffield, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and unique benefits like free bus travel and discounted train fares, we foster an environment where employees can thrive while contributing to sustainable transport solutions. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in the IT sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Project & Supplier Manager
✨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 FirstGroup Internal 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 FirstGroup Internal 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 FirstGroup Internal!
✨Direct Apply to FirstGroup Internal
Let's not forget to apply directly through the FirstGroup Internal 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 IT Project & Supplier Manager
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 FirstGroup Internal.
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 FirstGroup Internal. 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 FirstGroup Internal
✨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.
