Head of Commercial

Mastercard; Northampton; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology company is looking for a Director of Supplier Management. You will oversee the global supplier base, ensuring effectiveness while reducing costs and risks. Responsibilities include leading performance reviews and implementing strategies for supplier value delivery. Ideal candidates should possess strong stakeholder management, analytical skills, and knowledge of sourcing principles. This role fosters collaboration across functions and supports Mastercard's sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• Ability to organize, manage, and accomplish multiple high‑priority tasks.
• Experience designing and assuring supplier management programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the global supplier base across MPMS to drive effectiveness and reduce costs.
• Lead supplier engagement and performance reviews focusing on processing partners.
• Implement strategies to streamline operations and enhance supplier value delivery.

Skills

Understanding of prepaid processing and associated systems.

Stakeholder management experience with internal and external parties.

Excellent facilitation, negotiation, collaboration, and influencing skills.

Analytical thinking, initiative, and problem-solving capabilities.

Knowledge of Sourcing and Supply Chain principles.

Job description

Title and Summary

Director, Supplier Management

Overview

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to power an inclusive, digital economy by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Through secure data, trusted networks, and strategic partnerships, we enable individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses to realise their full potential. Mastercard Prepaid Management Services (MPMS) delivers end-to-end prepaid card solutions across travel, transit, foreign exchange, gifting, and buy‑now‑pay‑later segments. As a fintech enabler, MPMS operates a scalable, modular platform that supports a global portfolio of prepaid programmes, combining innovation with operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the global supplier base across MPMS to drive effectiveness, reduce costs, and mitigate risks.
• Lead supplier engagement and performance reviews, with a specific focus on MPMS's processing partners.
• Implement strategies to streamline operations and enhance supplier value delivery.
• Coordinate cross‑functional involvement in incident management, change management, and contract negotiations and extensions.
• Own relationships with select strategic suppliers and lead day‑to‑day relationship management including incident and change management.
• Ensure the Supplier Management Framework is deployed and functions to mitigate risk and ensure performance.
• Develop and deliver monthly MI dashboards with actionable insights and risk indicators.
• Embed multi‑level governance frameworks within supplier relationships.
• Design and implement functional solutions to meet business objectives.
• Lead risk mitigation and remediation efforts with suppliers, providing logical recommendations.
• Ensure close alignment with L1 Risk Management, Operational Resilience, Mastercard Sourcing and Third‑Party Risk Management.
• Improve the risk and control maturity of the supplier management function.
• Annually review and refresh key documentation including the Supplier Management Framework.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Monitor industry trends.
• Take lead on Intercompany Relationship Management and Intercompany Agreements.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to align payment operations with business objectives.
• Provide leadership with market insights, industry trends, and emerging supply options.
• Enable, support, and build further upon Mastercard's ESG strategy and priorities through business focus to drive sustainability.
• Drive strategic sourcing by analyzing spend, defining requirements, and negotiating contracts.

Essential – All About You

• Understanding of prepaid processing and associated systems.
• Ability to organize, manage, and accomplish multiple high‑priority tasks.
• Stakeholder management experience with internal and external parties.
• Experience designing and assuring supplier management programmes.
• Knowledge of third‑party management frameworks or experience of managing third‑parties.
• Excellent facilitation, negotiation, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical thinking, initiative, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Teamwork and coaching experience.
• High degree of self‑organization and accountability.
• Experience supporting customer and regulatory‑facing requirements.
• Knowledge of Sourcing and Supply Chain principles.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks come with an inherent risk to the organization. Every person working for or on behalf of Mastercard is responsible for information security and must abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices, ensure confidentiality and integrity of accessed information, report any suspected security violations or breaches, and complete all mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.