Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology in London

Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Multiverse

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Build and manage strategic vendor partnerships in the tech space to drive commercial success.
  • Company: Join Multiverse, a leading EdTech unicorn transforming workforce skills for the AI era.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 27 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a hybrid work model.
  • Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-driven tech partnerships and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Experience in managing tech vendor relationships and negotiating contracts.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Multiverse is the upskilling platform for AI and Tech adoption. We have partnered with 1,500+ companies to deliver a new kind of learning that's transforming today’s workforce. Our upskilling apprenticeships are designed for people of any age and career stage to build critical AI, data, and tech skills. Our learners have driven $2bn+ ROI for their employers, using the skills they’ve learned to improve productivity and measurable performance.

In April 2026, we announced $70 million in strategic funding, led by Schroders Capital, with participation from StepStone Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners and General Catalyst. At an increased valuation of $2.1bn, the round makes us Europe’s first EdTech double unicorn. But we aren’t stopping there. With a strong operational footprint and 800+ employees, we have ambitious plans to continue scaling. We’re building a world where tech skills unlock people’s potential and output. Join Multiverse and power our mission to equip the workforce to win in the AI era.

The role: Multiverse is the UK's largest apprenticeship provider and its first EdTech unicorn, and it's rebuilding on an AI-first foundation. Enterprise Trust & Reliability is the layer where that platform meets the customer, the regulator, and the investor. Our mission is to turn enterprise trust into enterprise revenue: the guardrails, integrations, and vendor relationships that let Multiverse move fast without breaking the trust that enterprise customers pay for.

We're hiring our first Strategic Technology Vendor Partnerships Lead: the commercial operator who owns how we buy, renew, and partner on technology. You'll sit at the seam between engineering, security, legal, finance, and our vendors, and you'll turn tooling spend and partner relationships into commercial advantage. This is a high-autonomy, high-influence individual-contributor role reporting to the Senior Director of the function.

What you'll do:

  • Build and own commercial and vendor relationships that matter most — model providers like Anthropic or ChatGPT, hyperscalers like AWS and Google, major platforms like Salesforce or Oracle, and developer and security tooling vendors.
  • Keep these relationships warm and know when to activate them. Look past cost: proactively find where a vendor relationship can unlock real value for the business, whether that's training, co-building, product integrations, or better commercial terms.
  • Centralise and modernise how we buy, renew, and consolidate technology, building this from a low base. That means a single software asset register, a clear intake-and-approval flow, and legal and security engaged early as a gate to clear, not a blocker to fight.
  • Bring total cost of ownership and usage-based pricing into the open so spend maps to outcomes.
  • Own the live threads from day one — including our LLM enterprise contracts, AI tooling, Identity platforms and other software contracts — and hold the pen on negotiations and renewals across the wider technology portfolio.
  • Turn procurement and partnerships into a commercial lever, not a cost centre. You'll sit at the seam between engineering, security, legal and finance, influencing outcomes across teams you don't manage — so persuasion and clarity carry the role.

How we work with AI: At Multiverse, AI is our engine, not an add-on. In this seat that's literal: you'll be buying, negotiating, and partnering on the exact tools that make it true, and modelling what they cost and what they return. We expect you to use AI daily in your own work — from drafting and comparing contracts to analysing spend — and to be genuinely curious about a tooling and AI-provider market that looks different every quarter.

What we're looking for:

  • You've built and grown relationships with major technology partners— AWS, Google, Salesforce, Anthropic-type organisations — and can point to commercial impact you unlocked, not just costs you cut.
  • You're comfortable inside a procurement process too: you've negotiated and renewed software, cloud, or SaaS contracts and can speak to the trade-offs you made, you understand consumption-based pricing, and you're at ease driving a decision across security, legal and finance without owning those teams.
  • But procurement isn't the whole story for you — you think about what a vendor relationship can build, not just what it costs, and you treat compliance as a lever rather than a blocker.
  • You're technically literate enough to challenge a vendor's claim without being an engineer, and comfortable navigating an engineering and product environment rather than operating purely from the business side.
  • We're looking for AI acumen too: you understand the competitive AI landscape — Anthropic, Google, AWS and others — well enough to advise on real strategic calls, like whether our current AI partner remains the right long-term one.

What this role isn't: This is an internal commercial seat, not sales: no quota, pipeline, or external revenue target. Your customers are our engineers and the business. You don't need to be an engineer (technical fluency over depth), and you won't manage people from day one—this senior IC role earns a team by proving the function.

To be clear on scope: this role owns buy-side commercial relationships with technology providers - advanced planning, networking, keeping warm, and then contracts, pricing, renewals, and consumption. Go-to-market partnering, co-selling, co-marketing, and curriculum work live with Partnerships and other teams, requiring close coordination on shared accounts.

Your first nine months:

  • Months one to three: map the estate. Every technology contract, renewal date and owner in one place; a single software asset register; a clear picture of spend across tokens, seats and cloud. Get on top of the live threads such as our LLM enterprise contracts, our identity tooling, developer tools, and cross-organisational threads — and start spotting quick wins, like renegotiating spend with an existing supplier.
  • Months four to six: stand up the buy, renew and consolidate process with security and legal engaged early. Land a first consolidation or renegotiation win — for example, a usage-backed recommendation that settles a tooling question. Start growing the strategic side: identify where vendor relationships can bring value beyond commercial terms, whether that's training, co-building, or product integrations - coordinating with the Partnerships team on any go-to-market angle.
  • Months seven to nine and beyond: turn procurement and partnerships into a genuine selling point. Produce the trust and vendor evidence that speeds enterprise and regulated deals, and build a repeatable partner playbook for the relationships that matter most — then keep that cycle of deepening partnerships and evolving process running.

Benefits:

  • Time off - 27 days holiday, plus 5 additional days off: 1 life event day, 2 volunteer days, 2 company-wide wellbeing days (M-Powered Weekend) and 8 bank holidays per year.
  • Health & Wellness- private medical Insurance with Bupa, a medical cashback scheme, life insurance, gym membership & wellness resources through Wellhub and access to Spill - all in one mental health support.
  • Hybrid work offering - for most roles we collaborate in the office three days per week with the exception of Coaches and Instructors who collaborate in the office once a month.
  • Work-from-anywhere scheme - you'll have the opportunity to work from anywhere, up to 10 days per year.
  • Space to connect: Beyond the desk, we make time for weekly catch-ups, seasonal celebrations, and have a kitchen that’s always stocked!

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We’re an equal opportunities employer. And proud of it. Every applicant and employee is afforded the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. This will never change.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding: Multiverse is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our learners. We expect all employees to share this commitment and adhere to our Safeguarding Policy, our Prevent Policy and all other Multiverse company policies. Successful applicants will be required to undertake at least a Basic check via the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). For roles that will involve a Regulated Activity, successful applicants must also undergo an Enhanced DBS check, including a Children’s Barred List check and a Prohibition Order check. Roles involving Regulated Activity may interact with vulnerable groups, therefore are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 meaning applicants are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings. Providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police and the DBS.

Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology in London employer: Multiverse

Multiverse is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and inclusivity, making it a fantastic place for professionals in the tech industry. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to hybrid work options, comprehensive health benefits, and a vibrant work culture that values diversity and collaboration. Join us to lead a dynamic team in creating impactful AI solutions that truly enhance learning experiences.

Multiverse

Contact Details:

Multiverse Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology in London

Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions

Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology at Multiverse!

Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks

Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Multiverse or be willing to refer you for that Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology position!

Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences

Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Multiverse who’s on the lookout for their next Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology star!

Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online

Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology role at Multiverse!

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Vendor Partnerships Lead, Technology in London

Vendor Relationship Management
Negotiation Skills
Procurement Process Knowledge
Technical Literacy
AI Acumen
Commercial Strategy Development
Contract Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Multiverse. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!

Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.

Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Multiverse

Master the Case Study Game

In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!

Know Your Numbers

Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!

Show Your Leadership Flair

As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Be a Cultural Fit

We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Multiverse. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!