IT Vendor & Supplier Relationship Manager

University of Salford (Personnel); Salford; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and pension

Generous annual leave

Flexible/hybrid working

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

University of Salford is seeking an IT Vendor & Supplier Relationship Manager to lead management of technology suppliers, contracts and commercial relationships. You will collaborate with Digital IT, Procurement, Finance and Legal to drive value, manage performance and plan renewals.

The role requires proactive stakeholder engagement, strong negotiation skills and the ability to challenge suppliers while aligning with university objectives. Hybrid working is supported.

Qualifications

• Experience in supplier management and contract lifecycle.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams (Procurement, Finance, Legal).

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with technology vendors and suppliers.
• Manage full lifecycle of vendor contracts with renewals, variations and governance.
• Lead vendor performance reviews to meet SLAs, KPIs and contractual obligations.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor management

Contract lifecycle

Stakeholder management

Job description

IT Vendor & Supplier Relationship Manager to lead the management of our technology suppliers, contracts and commercial relationships. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial and negotiation skills with experience of supplier management, contracts, Statements of Work and procurement processes to ensure we achieve the best value and outcomes from our technology partners. You will work closely with Digital & IT, Procurement, Finance and Legal to manage supplier performance, support contract development and negotiations, plan renewals and identify commercial risks and opportunities. This role is ideal for a proactive, relationship-focused professional who can confidently challenge and negotiate with suppliers while bringing stakeholders together to get things done.

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with the University's technology vendors and suppliers, acting as the primary point of contact for supplier performance, commercial engagement and contractual matters.
• Manage the full lifecycle of technology vendor contracts, working collaboratively with Procurement and Legal Services to coordinate renewals, contractual variations and governance activities.
• Lead vendor performance management, ensuring suppliers meet agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and contractual obligations through regular performance reviews and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).

A bit about the Digital IT department

Our Digital IT team provide essential services to the University's students, academics, and professionals, and so much more! The team explore new technologies and strive to innovate, with a strong focus on improving the customer experience. The ambition is that Salford will become the destination of choice for students who will have exceptional levels of employability when they graduate. Our three pillars of Digital Strategy, Digital Delivery and Digital Service all work together as a key enabler for the University to achieve this.

Benefits

• Competitive salary - and excellent pension scheme
• Generous annual leave - An impressive 32 days leave, plus bank holidays, additional time off at Christmas and the opportunity to buy even more!
• Flexible working - we support a culture of flexible and hybrid working, subject to business requirements.
• Professional development - a comprehensive package of training and development opportunities to help you achieve your full potential.