Wishgranting Supplier Account Manager (Maternity Cover) in Reading

Location: Reading, Hybrid (once a month to Reading office)

Hours: Full time

Salary: £35,000 per annum

Contract Type: FTC Maternity Cover

Campaign Closes: 8th April 2026

Interviews: 15th/16th/17th April 2026

On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.

Core Purpose

The Wishgranting Supplier Account Manager's role is to oversee and optimise the relationships between Make-A-Wish and our supplier partners, ensuring that suppliers effectively contribute to the organisation’s mission to fulfil impactful wishes. The role encompasses relationship management, supplier stewardship, and technology integration to drive efficiency, transparency, and collaboration. They will play a crucial role in supporting the WG Partnerships Manager in acquiring new Gift-in-Kind partnerships, ultimately reducing the average cash cost per wish and supporting the organisation’s growth objectives.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in supplier, account, or partnership management.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and a varied workload.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective supplier relationships.
• Ability to analyse supplier information and performance data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Experience coordinating complex logistics and problem-solving to deliver high quality outcomes.
• High attention to detail, ensuring accuracy across administration, supplier documentation, and compliance processes.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, maintaining professionalism in sensitive or emotionally challenging contexts.
• Confident using CRM systems and digital tools, with the ability to maintain accurate and timely records.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in the charity sector or with vulnerable children and families.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles.
• Experience with procurement processes or supplier contract management.
• Financial awareness related to budgeting, quoting, or supplier cost management.
• Understanding of wishgranting operations or similar fulfilment logistics.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting Gift-in-Kind Efforts

• Work closely with the Wishgranting Partnerships Manager to identify and secure new Gift-in-Kind partners. This involves helping to target potential suppliers that align with the Wishgranting team’s needs, preparing pitch materials, and participating in negotiations.
• Assist in articulating the benefits of Gift-in-Kind contributions to potential partners, demonstrating how such partnerships can help fulfil the organisation’s mission to grant impactful wishes while offering value to the supplier.
• Collaborate on creating tailored proposals that showcase how partnerships can reduce wish costs, strengthen community impact, and support organisational growth.
• Work closely with the Wishgranters to ensure Gift-in-Kind is utilised against wishes, and ensure the correct quality control measures and supporter stewardship journeys are followed to deliver a consistent and sector-leading supporter experience.
• Support the Wishgranting Partnerships Manager to develop the GIK solicitation processes.
• Develop and report on a pipeline of GIK supporters, ensuring that retention rates, supporter experience and journeys, including reward and recognition, are aligned with goals.
• Along with the Wishgranting Partnerships Manager, work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure non-wish related Gift In Kind opportunities are maximised, and that cross-organisational future opportunities are identified.

Supplier Account Management

• Maintain regular communication with Wishgranting suppliers to ensure alignment with the organisation’s needs, address any issues, and provide updates on mutual goals and expectations.
• Oversee the onboarding process for new suppliers, ensuring they are integrated smoothly into the organisation’s operations and fully understand the mission, values, and expectations.
• Develop and execute stewardship plans that keep suppliers engaged and motivated, show appreciation for their contributions, and foster long-term loyalty.
• Act as a primary point of contact for resolving any issues or disputes with suppliers, ensuring conflicts are handled professionally and in a way that maintains positive relationships.
• Ensure suppliers adhere to all contractual obligations, quality standards, and timelines.
• Regularly review contracts and processes to ensure they are up-to-date and reflect the Wishgranting team’s needs.
• Work with suppliers to develop efficient and effective Wishgranting processes.
• Create guidelines for the Wishgranting team, including creating Form Assembly forms and Wishgranting email templates.
• Regularly review and update the Wishgranting manual guidance and Wishing Well for each wish type.
• Deliver training and provide updates to the Wishgranters on new supplier processes.
• Place purchase orders with Wishgranting suppliers, track progress and expedite deliveries.
• Liaise with Wishgranters, suppliers and Wish Families to organise the delivery of items/services, as required.
• Support with post-wish financial administration and processes, including raising invoice requests, chasing outstanding payments, coding as required, and creating thank you letters and receipts.

Tech and Process Optimisation

• Utilise and optimise technology platforms to manage supplier accounts and the GIK inventory, streamline processes, and ensure that all data related to supplier performance, contracts, and contributions is organised and accessible.
• Work with the Wishgranting Team Manager to continuously seek opportunities to automate routine tasks related to supplier management, such as invoicing, stewardship, or managing contracts, to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Implement and manage tools that facilitate better communication and collaboration between suppliers and the Wishgranting team, ensuring a seamless flow of information and reducing the likelihood of errors or delays.

Job Benefits:

• 26 days annual leave with the option to buy/sell annual leave (pro rata for part time).
• Paid Birthday leave.
• Flexible & Hybrid working arrangements.
• Salary exchange pension scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Pirkx subscription - Access to wellbeing support, GP appointments, training and events, retail discount platform, and much more!
• Cycle to work initiative.