At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage strategic supplier relationships and drive commercial value for The AA.
- Company: Join The AA, a trusted name in keeping Britain moving for over a century.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, private medical insurance, and generous leave.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a culture that values diversity and employee growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while shaping procurement strategies and improving supplier performance.
- Qualifications: Strong procurement expertise and excellent stakeholder management skills required.
Location: Basingstoke (Hybrid working, 3 office days per week)
Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time
Why Join Us?
- Annual bonus, cash car allowance and private medical insurance
Take ownership of strategic supplier relationships and influence significant third party spend across The AA.
Work closely with senior stakeholders to unlock commercial value, improve supplier performance and shape procurement strategy.
Bring external market insight and fresh thinking to a Procurement function focused on delivering stronger commercial outcomes.
This is the Job
As our Supplier & Commercial Manager, you’ll play a key role in ensuring The AA gets the best possible value from its strategic supplier relationships. Working within our Procurement function, you’ll combine commercial thinking, supplier relationship management and strong business partnering to improve performance, unlock value and effectively manage commercial and supplier risk. This is an influential role where you’ll work closely with senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers, taking ownership of complex commercial relationships and helping shape how we manage third party spend. You’ll bring external market insight, challenge established thinking and identify opportunities to improve cost, service, innovation and commercial outcomes across The AA.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and develop relationships with strategic suppliers, leading regular business reviews and ensuring performance, risks, opportunities and improvement actions are effectively managed.
- Lead and support commercial activity across contract renewals, negotiations, amendments and supplier exits, protecting service continuity while delivering strong commercial outcomes.
- Identify and deliver opportunities for cost optimisation, efficiencies, revenue generation and wider value creation through existing and prospective supplier relationships.
- Partner with senior stakeholders to understand business priorities, shape sourcing and supplier strategies, and provide commercial insight that constructively challenges decision making.
- Monitor supplier performance through meaningful MI, KPIs and market intelligence, intervening where required and driving improvement and innovation with suppliers and internal teams.
- Support effective supplier governance and risk management, ensuring procurement policies, regulatory requirements and third-party governance obligations are consistently met.
What Do I Need?
You’ll Bring:
- Strong commercial procurement expertise, with a solid understanding of strategic supplier management, sourcing, contracting and the wider procurement lifecycle.
- A track record of managing complex supplier relationships and using commercial levers, performance data and effective SRM practices to deliver tangible business value.
- Strong commercial negotiation capability, with the confidence to navigate complex contractual discussions, resolve challenges and constructively challenge suppliers and stakeholders.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and translate commercial or market insight into clear recommendations.
- A strong understanding of supplier governance and risk management, ideally gained within a regulated or similarly complex organisation.
- Commercial and analytical acumen, with the ability to interpret spend and financial information, including OPEX and CAPEX, and use data to support effective decision making.
Nice to Have:
- Experience operating within a regulated or similarly complex environment.
- Exposure to procurement or supplier management transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience using procurement, supplier management or analytical tools to generate insight and improve commercial decision making.
Additional Information
Belonging at The AA
At The AA, we value the unique perspectives, experiences and ideas that our people bring. We've nurtured a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to do their best work. Through our employee communities and inclusion initiatives, we’ve created opportunities for people to connect, share experiences and influence positive change across the business. This is a place where your voice matters and where you can belong, grow and succeed.
Driven by People, Rewarded by Benefits
We believe in rewarding our people. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
- 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional holiday.
- Up to 7% employer pension contribution.
- Free AA breakdown membership from Day One with 50% discount for family and friends, plus discounts on AA products including car and home insurance.
- 24/7 GP access and wellbeing support for you and your family.
- A wide range of employee discounts, including our popular car salary sacrifice scheme.
Supplier & Category Manager in Basingstoke employer: The AA
At The AA, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a structured development programme for Trainee Mobile Mechanics in Birmingham. With a starting salary of £28,000 and opportunities for pay increases as you progress, our supportive work culture fosters hands-on training and mentorship from experienced colleagues, ensuring you have the tools to build a rewarding long-term career in the automotive industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supplier & Category Manager in Basingstoke
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like The AA.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to The AA:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to The AA. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like The AA.
How to prepare for a job interview at The AA
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at The AA!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at The AA. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into The AA's culture.
