Strategic Supplier & Commercial Leader

The Automobile Association; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Pension scheme (Worksave)

Free AA breakdown membership

Discounts on AA products

Employee discount programme

Life assurance

Learning & development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The Automobile Association (The AA) is seeking a Strategic Supplier & Commercial Manager to lead supplier relationships and maximise value from key contracts. You will work within the Procurement function, combining commercial thinking with supplier relationship management to improve performance, unlock value, and manage third-party spend.

You'll own strategic supplier relationships, influence senior stakeholders, and drive cost optimisation while upholding governance and risk management across

Qualifications

• Track record of managing complex supplier relationships.
• Strong commercial procurement expertise.
• Ability to interpret spend and financial information (OPEX and CAPEX).
• Experience in regulated or complex organisations.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop relationships with strategic suppliers through regular business reviews, managing performance, risks and improvement actions.
• Lead and support commercial activity across contract renewals, negotiations, amendments and exits.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, efficiencies, revenue generation and value creation.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to shape sourcing and supplier strategies and provide commercial insight.
• Monitor supplier performance via MI, KPIs and market intelligence, driving improvement with suppliers and internal teams.
• Support supplier governance and risk management, ensuring procurement policies and third-party governance obligations are met.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic supplier management

Commercial negotiations

Supplier performance monitoring

Cost optimisation

Job description

The Automobile Association (The AA) is seeking a Strategic Supplier & Commercial Manager to lead supplier relationships and maximise value from key contracts. You will work within the Procurement function, combining commercial thinking with supplier relationship management to improve performance, unlock value, and manage third-party spend.

You'll own strategic supplier relationships, influence senior stakeholders, and drive cost optimisation while upholding governance and risk management across