Senior Partner Manager

VIVO Defence Services; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6% employee matched pension

25 days annual leave

Single private medical cover

Car allowance

Life assurance 2x annual salary

Job summary

VIVO Defence Services seeks an experienced Senior Partner Manager to lead supplier relationships across a national defence-focused portfolio. This mobile role covers UK-wide activities and requires close collaboration with operations and strategic suppliers.

You will source, onboard and develop suppliers, monitor performance against KPIs and SLAs, and influence contracting and governance to deliver value and risk management. Travel will be required across the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, commercial management or supplier relationship management.
• Experience with tender processes and contract negotiations.
• Ability to analyse performance data and drive improvements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to travel within the UK to support suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end relationship with service partners across VIVO.
• Source, onboard, manage and develop suppliers to deliver value.
• Monitor KPIs, SLAs and quality standards; drive performance improvements.
• Support tender activities, supplier evaluations and contract changes.
• Contribute to supplier frameworks, cost control and governance.
• Collaborate with operations, commercial colleagues and sustainability teams.

Skills

Supplier management

Procurement

Commercial governance

Contract negotiations

Tender processes

Budget management

Education

Procurement/Commercial qualification

Tools

e-procurement systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We Are

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

Job Req ID: 311246 Posting Start Date: 5 Sept 2026 Location: Home Based, Oxfordshire, GB, OX1 Contract Type: Full Time Job Advertisement:

Who We Are

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

What We Do

We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.

Location: Mobile role. Candidates can be based anywhere in England (except London)

Permanent, Full time

Salary: Competitive + Car allowance

We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Senior Partner Manager to support the continued development of our Partner Management function. This is an exciting opportunity for a procurement or commercial professional looking to take the next step in their career within the facilities management sector, working across a complex national operation supporting the Defence Estate.

As Senior Partner Manager, you will play a key role in managing the end-to-end relationship with service partners across VIVO. You will be responsible for ensuring suppliers are effectively sourced, onboarded, managed and developed, delivering strong commercial outcomes, operational performance and excellent customer service.

Working closely with operational teams, commercial colleagues and strategic suppliers, you will develop strong collaborative relationships that support consistent service delivery across the business. You will help shape and embed supplier management frameworks, improving governance, driving efficiencies and ensuring partners deliver against contractual commitments.

You will oversee supplier performance across a wide portfolio of service partners, ensuring agreed KPIs, SLAs and quality standards are achieved. This will include monitoring performance, managing contract obligations, supporting improvement plans and identifying opportunities to enhance delivery, reduce risk and improve value for money.

A key part of the role will be supporting commercial and budget management activities, ensuring effective cost control and providing insight into supplier performance and opportunities for improvement. You will contribute to the development of supplier frameworks, contract processes and sourcing strategies that strengthen VIVO’s supply chain capability.

You will work across multiple contracts, building trusted relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders while acting as a key point of contact for supplier-related matters. You will support tender activities, supplier evaluations, negotiations and contract changes, ensuring commercial decisions are aligned with business objectives.

You will also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying innovative approaches that improve quality, efficiency and customer outcomes. Working closely with sustainability teams, you will help ensure supply chain activity supports wider environmental and operational goals.

The role requires regular engagement across the business and travel within the UK, ensuring strong visibility and effective supplier relationships across VIVO contracts.

About You

You will have experience in procurement, commercial management, supplier relationship management or a similar role, ideally within facilities management, construction or a related service environment.

You will have a strong understanding of supply chain management, contract performance and commercial governance, with experience managing suppliers, negotiating agreements and driving improvements through effective partnership working.

You will be confident managing multiple priorities, analysing performance data and turning insights into practical actions. Experience managing tender processes, evaluating supplier submissions and supporting contract negotiations will be highly beneficial.

You will be a strong communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and build effective relationships with both internal teams and external partners. You will be collaborative, commercially aware and able to challenge constructively to achieve the best outcomes.

A relevant qualification in procurement, commercial management or facilities management, or a willingness to work towards one, would be desirable. Experience with contract management tools, e-procurement systems and Microsoft Office applications is expected.

You will be proactive, organised and solutions-focused, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards of governance, supplier performance and customer service. Experience working within defence, regulated environments or large-scale FM contracts would be advantageous.

Please note, candidates MUST have a services rather than goods background to be considered for this role.

What We Offer

• 6% employee matched pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Single private medical cover
• Car allowance
• Life assurance 2x annual salary

VIVO Defence Services

The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.

At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.

We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.