Lead Supplier Relationship Manager (IT) in Leeds

At Yorkshire Building Society, we are taking our Supply Chain Management function on an exciting transformation journey, building a market‑leading capability across category management, sourcing, third‑party risk, property and supplier relationship management. As part of this, we are strengthening how we manage our most critical third‑party relationships, particularly across IT, where supplier performance, resilience and value are fundamental to member outcomes.

You will be responsible for leading supplier relationship management across a portfolio of 30+ IT suppliers, covering core banking and platforms, payments, infrastructure, networks and telecoms, cloud, SaaS, data, cyber and managed services. The portfolio includes both strategic suppliers and operationally critical providers. The role sits within an emerging Third‑Party Target Operating Model, where roles, responsibilities and ways of working are becoming more clearly defined. The portfolio has already begun transitioning into this new model, and a key part of the role is embedding the TOM in practice locking in governance, clarifying accountabilities, and ensuring consistent and effective supplier oversight across IT.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaboration with the Accountable Director and Category Management on supplier strategy, leading on governance for your supplier portfolio, providing oversight and challenge across performance, risk and value.
• Support effective operational outcomes by shaping and embedding supplier management frameworks that enable resilient service delivery, clear ownership and improved transparency.
• Play an important role in supporting operational resilience and regulatory expectations, including incident management and third‑party risk obligations, without owning day‑to‑day execution.
• Lead a small team of Supplier Relationship Managers (2 FTE). Leadership in this role is focused on coaching, quality assurance of SRM outputs, and managing escalations and executive‑facing supplier issues.
• Work closely with the Director of IT and their leadership team, alongside stakeholders across Procurement, Third‑Party Risk, Legal, Compliance, Operational Resilience, Architecture, Data and AI.
• Engage with senior and executive‑level contacts within key suppliers.

About you:

You will bring experience managing complex IT suppliers within a regulated environment, and be comfortable operating at senior level with a strong focus on assurance, governance and value. You are likely to have experience from one or more of the following:

• IT‑facing supplier relationship management roles
• Procurement or commercial roles closely aligned to technology
• Operational supplier management roles with significant IT exposure

You will be experienced in working with large technology vendors, across a mix of software, hardware, cloud and on‑prem environments. Experience of outsourced IT services is advantageous. A working understanding of third‑party risk management within Financial Services, including operational resilience and incident management expectations, is a significant benefit. You are confident influencing senior stakeholders, providing constructive challenge, and handling difficult conversations without owning delivery or technical decision‑making.

Success in this role looks like:

• Improved service stability and transparency across IT suppliers
• Clearer accountability between IT, SRM and third parties
• Stronger commercial leverage across the IT supply base
• Measurable value and innovation delivered through supplier relationships

About us:

At YBS we don’t have shareholders, we have members. We care about people and that includes you. So here, you’ll be respected for who you are, you’ll be able to bring your whole self to work, and you’ll have everything you need to build a long and rewarding career.

Benefits:

• Holiday: You’ll get 25 days plus Bank Holidays, as well as the option to buy up to a further 5 days.
• Bonus: At YBS we work collaboratively and share in our success together, so when we reach our goals we’re all rewarded with an on‑target bonus of 7% of eligible pay (with the opportunity to earn up to a maximum 15%).
• Pension: We’ll contribute up to 11% into your YBS pension.
• Healthcare: Access to a range of health benefits including private medical insurance, dental and healthcare plans.
• My Benefits: Access to our self‑service benefits portal, where you can access a range of retail, hospitality and health discounts.

Please note: This advert will close 8th May.