At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead supplier relationships and drive strategic governance in technology and AI.
- Company: Leading international law firm with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and make a real impact in a fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Shape the future of supplier strategy in a dynamic tech environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing technology suppliers and strong relationship management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
London – Hybrid Working (2 days onsite) Competitive Salary + Benefits
I’m currently working with a leading international law firm that is looking to appoint a Technical Supplier Relationship Lead to join its growing technology function in London. This is a brand-new role sitting within the technology team, focused on building and driving a more strategic approach to supplier governance, AI vendor oversight, and technology supplier management across a broad and evolving technology estate.
The organisation is looking for someone who can take ownership of areas that have historically been unmanaged or reactive and help establish a clear supplier and contract baseline across the business. This role will play a key part in shaping the long-term supplier and vendor strategy across technology, infrastructure, security, managed services, and AI products.
This is not a passive vendor management role. They need someone who is comfortable getting hands-on, reviewing and challenging existing supplier arrangements, pulling processes apart where needed, and driving measurable improvements across supplier governance, commercial oversight, and vendor performance.
The successful candidate will work closely with procurement, product owners, service management, and senior technology stakeholders to assess:
- Whether the business is working with the right suppliers
- Opportunities for supplier consolidation and cost optimisation
- Commercial value versus technology consumption
- AI-related supplier risks and governance considerations
- Alternative products and solutions available within the market
- Supplier performance, service quality, and operational risk
The environment includes a broad and evolving technology supplier landscape spanning enterprise software, cloud services, infrastructure, security platforms, managed services, and emerging AI technologies.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a strategic supplier relationship and vendor governance approach across technology and AI suppliers
- Establish a clear supplier and contract baseline across the technology estate
- Manage supplier relationships, renewals, governance processes, and vendor performance activities
- Monitor and manage supplier SLAs, KPIs, commercial performance, and service delivery standards
- Hold suppliers accountable around performance, service quality, cost, and delivery
- Analyse licensing, consumption-based services, and commercial value across technology and AI products
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, cost optimisation, and operational improvement
- Support supplier-related risk management across AI usage, security, operational resilience, and commercial exposure
- Work closely with procurement and internal stakeholders to support sourcing, renewals, and supplier strategy initiatives
- Act as the key relationship owner for technology suppliers and external partners
- Drive issue escalation and resolution management where required
Experience Required
- Proven experience managing technology suppliers, vendors, or third-party service providers
- Strong understanding of technology contracts, supplier governance, and vendor relationship management
- Experience managing renewals, supplier performance, SLAs, and commercial oversight
- Exposure to software, cloud, infrastructure, security, managed services, and AI-related suppliers
- Strong awareness of AI-related supplier risks, licensing models, governance considerations, and consumption-based technology services
- Commercially strong with experience analysing supplier value, spend, cost optimisation, and commercial risk
- Comfortable operating autonomously within a standalone role and driving initiatives independently
- Confident challenging suppliers, stakeholders, contracts, and existing ways of working where necessary
- Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills
- Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced and evolving environment
Additional Information
- Reports directly into senior technology leadership
- Operates as a standalone specialist role within the technology function
- Technology team size of approximately 65 people
- Highly visible role with broad exposure across supplier strategy, AI governance, technology operations, and commercial management
- Hybrid working model – 2 days onsite in London
If this sounds like you, or someone within your network, please send your CV to zoe.hinkinson@propellondon.com or apply directly via LinkedIn.
Vendor Manager employer: Propel
Join a leading international law firm in London as a Vendor Manager, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic approach to supplier governance and technology management. With a competitive salary and benefits, this hybrid working model allows for flexibility while being part of a dynamic technology team that values innovation and hands-on leadership. The firm fosters a collaborative work culture, offering ample opportunities for professional growth and development in a fast-paced environment focused on cutting-edge AI and technology solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vendor Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work in tech or vendor management. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its suppliers. Understand their tech landscape and be ready to discuss how you can improve supplier governance and performance. Show them you mean business!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job alerts; actively apply through our website! Tailor your application to highlight your experience with technology suppliers and vendor management. We want to see how you can make a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind. Mention something specific from your conversation to show you were engaged and are genuinely interested in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Vendor Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Vendor Manager. Highlight your experience with technology suppliers and governance, and don’t forget to mention any hands-on projects you've led that align with the job description.
Showcase Your Skills:We want to see your strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills shine through. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully managed supplier performance and driven improvements in past roles.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the heart of your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures your CV lands in the right hands!
How to prepare for a job interview at Propel
✨Know Your Suppliers Inside Out
Before the interview, do your homework on the suppliers and vendors relevant to the role. Understand their strengths, weaknesses, and how they fit into the technology landscape. This will show that you’re proactive and ready to take ownership of supplier relationships.
✨Prepare for Hands-On Scenarios
Since this role requires a hands-on approach, be ready to discuss specific examples where you've challenged existing supplier arrangements or improved vendor performance. Think about measurable outcomes you’ve achieved in previous roles to demonstrate your impact.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
The organisation is looking for someone who can develop a strategic supplier relationship approach. Be prepared to talk about how you would establish a clear supplier and contract baseline, and share any past experiences where you’ve successfully implemented similar strategies.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your relationship management skills by discussing how you’ve worked with various stakeholders in the past. Prepare to explain how you would collaborate with procurement and internal teams to support sourcing and renewals, showcasing your ability to balance strategic thinking with execution.
