Our client, a leading national Facilities Management organisation, is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Partner Management Lead to take ownership of the end-to-end management of its specialist supply chain across the business.
This is a strategic leadership opportunity responsible for developing supplier relationships, driving commercial performance, and establishing a consistent, high-performing Partner Management function across multiple operational contracts.
Working closely with operational, commercial, and procurement teams, the successful candidate will play a key role in shaping how specialist service partners are sourced, onboarded, managed, and developed throughout the supplier lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the specialist supplier network across the business, ensuring effective commercial and operational performance.
- Develop and implement supplier management frameworks that improve collaboration, accountability, and alignment with contractual and operational objectives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers, acting as a trusted commercial lead across the organisation.
- Lead, coach, and develop a small procurement and supplier management team, embedding a collaborative and performance-focused culture.
- Oversee the commercial and contractual management of specialist suppliers across services, works, goods, materials, and indirect spend categories.
- Manage supplier performance, including KPI and SLA monitoring, governance, reporting, and continuous improvement activities.
- Ensure robust change control, contract compliance, and commercial governance processes are in place.
- Standardise supplier agreements, frameworks, and terms and conditions across the business.
- Work closely with operational teams to develop clear scopes of work and ensure supplier requirements are effectively communicated and implemented.
- Identify opportunities to improve supply chain performance, reduce cost, enhance operational efficiency, and introduce innovative supplier solutions.
- Lead tendering, sourcing, benchmarking, and supplier evaluation activities to ensure best value and competitiveness.
- Manage complex procurement exercises, evaluate supplier submissions, and present recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Support budgetary oversight and spend management across the specialist supply chain, including forecasting and financial planning activities.
- Utilise e-procurement systems to improve supplier management, contract visibility, and procurement efficiency.
- Organise supplier engagement initiatives and events to strengthen partnerships and support supply chain growth and diversification.
About You
The successful candidate will bring significant experience within procurement, commercial management, or supply chain leadership, ideally gained within facilities management, construction, infrastructure, or similarly complex operational environments.
You will possess strong commercial acumen, excellent stakeholder management capability, and proven experience managing strategic supplier relationships and sourcing activities from design through to implementation.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong understanding of supplier management, contract delivery, and commercial governance
- Experience managing complex supplier relationships and procurement processes
- Proven ability to lead tender exercises, evaluate submissions, and present commercial outcomes
- Experience developing and managing KPI and SLA performance frameworks
- Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship-building skills
- Excellent analytical capability with the ability to interpret and present data effectively
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and Word
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Procurement, Commercial Management, or a related discipline
- Professional membership such as CIPS, RICS, CIOB, or IWFM
- Leadership or management qualifications would be advantageous