Supplier Relationship Management and Continuous Improvement Lead

80389 - Supplier Relationship Management and Continuous Improvement Lead

This Supplier Relationship Management and Continuous Improvement Lead will report to the Supplier Relationship Management and Continuous Improvement Manager and will work within Capital Programme and Procurement: PMO and Supply Chain Management based in either our Crawley, London, Maidstone, Bury St Edmunds, Colchester or Stevenage office. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of £76,229 and a bonus of 3%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote.

Close Date: 27/02/2025

We also provide the following additional benefits:

• Reservist Leave - Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
• Personal Pension Plan - Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
• Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On - scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme

Job Purpose:

You will contribute to the way UK Power Networks executes its main departments. This will include improving the performance and involvement of UK Power Networks' main contractors and suppliers by developing value-adding strategic relationships between UKPN and its high risk, high value (£3m+) supply chain.

This opening is to be the relationship lead for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).

By performing the role of an internal consultant to several departments in all areas affecting Safety, Customer Service, Operational Performance and Cost, the SRM & CI Lead will seek out opportunities for continuous improvement. You will manage issue tracking and resolution related to internal and external practices and processes/systems.

You will use data from several sources and produce regular insight reports on the performance of strategic spend areas and suppliers. The SRM & CI Lead will work with all company partners, including Senior Management, to deliver value adding change through improvement plans and new ideas.

The SRM & CI Lead will support Contract Managers and provide guidance to all important partners, including senior managers, on the operational demands of complying with the UK Power Networks' Contract Management policy. You will improve the standing of UK Power Networks with existing and potential suppliers by ensuring good industry practices are followed in managing mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

The SRM & CI Lead will also play an important part in ensuring compliance with, and encouraging improvements in the use of important UK Power Networks systems as they relate to issuing of work, measuring of performance and prompt payment of invoices.

As SRM specialist for OEM matters, the SRM & CI Lead will have a focus on working with project delivery teams to improve on-time delivery of equipment. You will monitor milestones throughout the timeline of equipment ordering, design and delivery. You will institute changes and achieve improvement in these outcomes through influencing all partners. Any improvements which are relevant to suppliers beyond the OEM category would also be rolled out to those parties.

Dimensions:

Number of key contractors: 15

Main responsibilities:

• Improve the performance of main suppliers, OEMs, and their relationship with UKPN, influencing partners and the supply chain to deliver in keeping with project timelines.
• Facilitate the contract management process observing UK Power Networks policy.
• Create improvement plans across related important business activities for UK Power Networks.
• Use internal and external data sources to report contractor performance and provide analysis to deliver market leading performance.
• Support Contract Owners, Contract Managers and important partners in all aspects of contract management for high risk and high value (£3m+) contracts.
• Develop strategic relationships with third-party suppliers.
• Identify opportunities for, and take the lead on, supplier development activities.
• Provide guidance for future procurement events based on past experiences and in-depth market knowledge.
• Improve overall cost of delivery, integrating OEM, Design, Delivery and Contractor with continuous improvement work.

Qualifications:

We ask that you demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Experience managing either or both sides of our client supplier relationship concerning infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of high value equipment manufacturing and supply with an understanding of the demands of working with this industry (ideally have experience of electrical systems and equipment).
• Coach partners and colleagues at all levels, often making complex situations understandable in simple terms to convey messages.
• Analytical and reporting skills with a track record in processing complex data to identify performance trends and provide practical feedback to partners.
• Arrange and chair meetings, influencing senior managers both within UK Power Networks and our supply partners while delivering exceptional customer service.
• An understanding of the drivers of schedule and cost performance in projects and their supply chain, and the ability to drive opportunities for positive change.
• An understanding of the different approaches required to influence a range of partners who have competing priorities.
• Develop improvement strategies and plans involving a broad range of partners and suppliers at all levels of seniority.
• IT skills including a comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office and SAP.
• Process skills including the ability to develop new process or amend existing improvements to deliver greater value.
• Conscientious with experience developing relationships with all partners.
• Strength in team working and delivering excellent customer service, internally and externally.
• An understanding of and desire to contribute to a process and the wider organisation.
• Inspired motivator.
• Excellent planning and organisation with a solution-oriented mindset.

Health & Safety Responsibilities:

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

If you have any queries in connection to this vacancy or your application, please contact us at quoting the vacancy reference number and a member of the team will get in touch with you as soon as possible.