Lead IT Supplier Relationship and Contracts Manager

Our Procurement and Commercial team are responsible for helping the business to procure services and materials in a timely and cost-effective way. We work right across the SSE Group, ensuring our businesses gets the best possible service and value from our supplier network, as well as ensuring all service providers are compliant and continue to meet contractual obligations and business needs.

Main Purpose of Job

This is an exciting brand new role which will be fundamental in the way SSE engages and build relationships across the SSE Group with its IT key Suppliers. The successful candidate will instrumental in shaping the relationships that IT has with its key suppliers.

Reporting to the Head of Procurement & Commercial - IT & Telco, the Lead SRM & Contract Manager shall be responsible for implementing, managing and developing productive relationships between IT and Key Suppliers, identified through performing Supplier Segmentation in collaboration with IT and the wider IT Procurement & Commercial Team. The role holder will act as commercial & contractual advisory between the IT senior leadership team, MDs and Senior Execs of the relevant BUs with a focus on ensuring that these suppliers are delivering on key deliverables such as service, performance, cost, insights and continuous improvement.

They will have responsibility to ensure appropriate level of governance meetings are held to manage commercial and operational performance and recommend and implement changes both operationally and strategically for performance to be maintained at a desired level. Additionally, the individual will be responsible for the commercial management and administration of contracts to ensure successful delivery in accordance with all internal policies and procedures such as the Procurement Manual, Commercial Manual and the IT Contract Management Governance Framework Manual. Knowledge of the Utilities Contract Regulations is desirable.

The individual will manage the performance and workload of a team of SRM and Contract Managers and support the delivery of Procurement & Commercial departmental KPIs and objectives such as savings in total cost of ownership, insights, additional value & sustainability performance.

Key Responsibilities

- Relationship Management. Implement, manage and develop productive relationships between IT, P&C and IT Key Suppliers. Ensure Supplier Segmentation in collaboration with IT is performed to identify key suppliers.

- Provide commercial and contractual advice and insights to Senior Execs of the SSE Group.

- Ensure the team are driving best value from the portfolio of Supplier contracts and be able to demonstrate the value provided.

- Manage a portfolio of Suppliers with a value of £150-200m per annum to support the delivery of Procurement & Commercial department KPIs and objectives in line with Procurement Manual, Commercial Manual and the IT Contract Management Governance Manual.

- Manage the performance and develop the capabilities of a team of Strategic Relationship Managers and Contract Managers. Also provide commercial / contractual advice and support to the wider P&C team.

Solid and extensive in depth knowledge and experience of the IT market and Supply chain, including experience in drafting, interpreting and negotiating complex IT & Telco Contracts.

- Excellent communication skills and a highly experienced in building and maintaining relationships with large IT & Telco Suppliers such as Microsoft, Oracle, GE, HCL, Infosys, Vodafone.

- Proven track record in communicating effectively with C-suite executives to build valued and 'trusted partner relationships.

- Experience in operating with the strategic/long term in mind to ensure SSE is leveraging both financial and operational opportunities across the SSE Group.

- Management skills to lead teams and self motivated to drive delivery across the team.

SSE has big ambitions to be a leading energy company in a low carbon world. Following our commitment to invest £20.5 billion in low carbon projects to 2027, we have significant growth plans and are well on our way to achieving our ambition to build a world that's more sustainable and inclusive for you, your family, the community you live in and for generations to come., At SSE, we own more than 500 property assets and several thousand land assets, which are located across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland. Our Procurement & Commercial, Property and Facilities Management teams are responsible for helping the business to procure services and materials in a timely and cost-effective way, and for ensuring SSE offers a safe, modern, fit-for-purpose property portfolio. We work right across the SSE Group, ensuring our businesses gets the best possible service and value from our supplier network, as well as ensuring all service providers are compliant and continue to meet contractual obligations and business need.

We offer an excellent package with 34 days annual leave entitlement. Enhanced maternity/paternity leave, discounted healthcare, salary sacrifice car leasing and much more, view our full benefits package on our careers site.