Supplier Relationship Lead in Wakefield

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Supplier Relationship Lead to deliver exceptional value to the NHS through strategic partnerships, innovation, and operational excellence. We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded leader to take ownership of our Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) programme, driving collaboration with our most critical suppliers and helping to maximise value across the healthcare supply chain.

In this high-impact role, you will lead our Formal SRM programme and supplier management activity, overseeing the strategic relationships that most directly support our commercial objectives across multiple category areas. You will be responsible for developing and continuously enhancing our SRM operating model, processes, and toolkits, ensuring a consistent and effective approach that protects the value delivered through category strategies while identifying opportunities to unlock additional commercial, operational, and strategic benefits throughout the full contract lifecycle.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence key business outcomes, strengthen supplier performance, and contribute to the delivery of world-class procurement and supply chain services that support the NHS and improve patient care across the UK.

Every day you will …

• Lead and develop the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) function, creating a clear vision aligned to organisational goals, while driving capability development, succession planning, and a high-performing team culture.
• Drive supplier value and continuous improvement, identifying and delivering value-release opportunities in partnership with stakeholders to maximise commercial and operational outcomes across the supply chain.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, acting as the subject matter expert on supplier capabilities, value propositions, and market positioning, while supporting the delivery of category strategies through effective supplier engagement.
• Champion and enhance the Formal SRM programme, embedding best-practice relationship management frameworks, tools, and training to ensure consistent adoption and continuous improvement across the organisation.
• Build trusted internal and external partnerships, collaborating across functions, category teams and supplier organisations to strengthen stakeholder relationships, raise the profile of SRM, and position NHS Supply Chain as the preferred route to market for strategic suppliers.

What can we offer you?

• Hybrid working opportunities, giving you the flexibility to work collaboratively in the office and remotely.
• Annual bonus schemes, long service, and colleagues’ recognition awards.
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• In-house training, support, and access to external qualifications to maximise your potential.
• 1 day of paid well-being leave and free access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Generous pension scheme (with us contributing 12% when you contribute 6%).
• Access to our Flexible Benefits Scheme, where you can choose from a variety of benefits such as Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Health Cash Plan, Dental Insurance, and additional pension contributions that suit you.
• 2 days of paid volunteering leave allowing you to give back to your community.
• Access to many discounts from the Blue Light Card to NHS Discounts.

NHS Supply Chain, who are we?

Our role is to support the NHS to save lives and improve health. We are a part of the NHS family, and our role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales. We serve every NHS Trust and operate a national network of distribution centres, managing relationships with more than a thousand suppliers and delivering more than 8,000,000 orders each year to more than 17,000 locations. Doing all of this on behalf of the NHS gives NHS staff more time to focus on their main priority of providing excellent patient care.

What skills will help you thrive in this role?

• Extensive experience managing strategic supplier relationships across global manufacturers and distributors, collaborating with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to deliver commercial objectives and sustainable business value.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with a proven track record of leading complex negotiations, delivering significant cost savings, and applying robust procurement methodologies, cost modelling techniques, and best-practice sourcing processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and enhance Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) frameworks, leveraging supplier segmentation strategies to maximise value creation, innovation, performance, and risk management throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Proven success in delivering value-based procurement initiatives across complex projects, identifying and implementing multiple value levers while balancing diverse stakeholder priorities and organisational objectives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, with the capability to analyse procurement data, develop insightful reporting, create professional documentation, and deliver impactful presentations to senior stakeholders.

Our Inclusive Commitment

At NHS Supply Chain, we are committed to building an inclusive environment where difference is not only valued, but celebrated, giving everyone the opportunity to thrive in their career. Developing our people is key to our success, so if this role sounds like the right next step in your career but your experience doesn’t match perfectly with the job advert, we encourage you to still apply.

We reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.