Supplier Relationship Management Lead

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited; Chorley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Hybrid working structure

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

Study sponsorship

Recognition awards

Employee referral scheme

Discounts

Job summary

TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited in Chorley is seeking a Supplier Relationship Management Lead to drive day-to-day SRM across an assigned portfolio of suppliers, build effective relationships and ensure performance in line with TVS and client expectations.

The role covers supplier performance management, development & continuous improvement, risk & resilience, and operational supply chain support, with an established hybrid/onsite structure at the Chorley head office.

Qualifications

• Experience leading supplier relationship management across a portfolio of suppliers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret data and drive corrective actions.
• Ability to challenge suppliers constructively and hold them accountable for performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication, with readiness to travel as required.
• Experience with supplier development, continuous improvement processes and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day SRM activity across an assigned portfolio of suppliers.
• Develop relationships with key suppliers focusing on performance, accountability and commercial outcomes.
• Ensure suppliers understand TVS and client expectations, contractual commitments and performance requirements.
• Lead or support supplier performance meetings and reviews; conduct supplier site visits.
• Monitor KPIs, SLAs and contractual requirements; analyse data to identify trends and root causes.
• Develop recovery plans for underperforming suppliers and escalate where needed.
• Support supplier development opportunities, process improvements and cost reduction initiatives.
• Provide hands-on operational supply chain support when required.

Skills

Supplier relationship management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Negotiation

Continuous improvement

Leadership

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

TVS Supply Chain Solutions are hiring a Supplier Relationship Management Lead based in our Chorley head office.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Lead the day-to-day Supplier Relationship Management activity across an assigned portfolio of suppliers.
• Develop effective relationships with key suppliers while maintaining a clear focus on performance, accountability and commercial outcomes.
• Ensure suppliers understand TVS and Client expectations, contractual commitments and performance requirements.
• Develop supplier relationships that encourage openness, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Maintain appropriate records of supplier relationships, commitments, actions and performance.
• Lead or support regular supplier performance meetings and reviews.
• Conduct supplier site visits to better understand operational capability, processes, constraints and improvement opportunities.
• Participate in supplier audits, improvement workshops and operational reviews alongside the SQA team where appropriate.

Supplier Performance Management

• Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs, SLAs and contractual requirements.
• Analyse supplier performance data to identify trends, recurring issues, areas of underperformance and opportunities for improvement.
• Proactively challenge supplier performance where outputs do not meet agreed expectations, questioning recurring issues to identify root cause and corrective actions.
• Ensure supplier performance discussions are based on clear evidence, data and agreed contractual requirements.
• Lead regular supplier performance reviews and ensure actions are clearly documented, owned and followed through.
• Establish appropriate recovery plans for suppliers failing to meet agreed performance standards.
• Escalate persistent or material supplier performance issues through the appropriate governance process.
• Understand the operational impact of supplier performance on Client service and wider business performance, briefing relevant stakeholders.

Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to develop supplier capability and improve overall performance. Work collaboratively with suppliers to identify opportunities for Service improvement, Cost reduction, Quality improvement, Lead-time reduction, Availability improvement, Process efficiency, Supply resilience and innovation
• Encourage suppliers to propose innovative solutions and improvements rather than relying solely on TVS-led initiatives.
• Track the benefits delivered through supplier development activity.

Supplier Risk & Resilience

• Identify and monitor supplier risks that could impact Client service, cost, quality or operational continuity.
• Maintain visibility of critical suppliers, single-source dependencies and supply constraints.
• Monitor supplier capacity, lead times, financial or operational challenges where relevant.
• Support business continuity and supply resilience initiatives.

Operational Supply Chain Support

When not undertaking supplier-facing activities, the role will provide hands‑on support to the wider Supply Chain operation.

• Support the Supply Chain team in managing day-to-day operational requirements.
• Assist with availability, backorders, shortages, order management and supplier-related issues.
• Support resolution of urgent or critical supply requirements.
• Monitor supply chain performance and take action where service levels are at risk.
• Provide additional operational capacity during periods of increased demand, absence or business-critical activity.
• Support Client requirements and ensure service commitments are maintained.
• Use knowledge gained through supplier relationships to identify and resolve operational supply issues more effectively.
• Ensure supplier issues identified operationally are fed back into the appropriate Supplier Relationship Management process.

• Previous experience within Supplier Relationship Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics or a similar operational environment.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and improving supplier performance.
• Strong understanding of supplier KPIs, SLAs, performance measurement and corrective action processes.
• Experience of challenging suppliers constructively and holding them accountable for agreed performance.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of the relationship between supplier performance, cost, service, quality and Client satisfaction.
• Experience of supplier development and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret supplier performance data and identify root causes.
• Ability and willingness to provide hands‑on operational Supply Chain support when required.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Resilient and able to manage difficult conversations and challenging supplier situations.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple suppliers and priorities.
• Good working knowledge of ERP systems and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a wider team.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel regularly to supplier, Client and operational locations.

In return for your hard work, we offer excellent career progression opportunities and a professional environment where you can acquire, use, and continue developing your skills.

Your package will include:

• Competitive Salary
• Pension scheme with up to 6% employer matched contributions
• Life assurance
• 25 days holiday + 8 statutory bank holidays
• Holiday buy-back scheme (5 additional days available)
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – A cost-effective way to lease a new car via salary sacrifice (subject to meeting minimum earnings eligibility criteria).
• Established hybrid working structure
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Employee Assistance Programme supporting wellness with immediate access for you and your family to:
  1. Virtual GP consultations and second opinions
  2. Mental health support and counselling
  3. Online physiotherapy
  4. Access to CONNECTPlus long-term health condition support
  5. Wellbeing and healthy living support
• Cycle to work scheme
• Professional Membership and Study Sponsorship
• Quarterly employee recognition awards
• Employee referral scheme with financial reward
• Benefits hub with employee retail discounts
• Discounted eye test vouchers

At TVS SCS we encourage and support our employees to realise their potential. They are empowered to take initiative and achieve high impact results that really make a difference to our business and our customers.

Security Clearance Requirement

Candidates must be eligible to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. This process includes verification of identity, right to work in the UK, employment history, and a basic criminal records check for unspent convictions. Please note that candidates must have resided in the UK for 3 years to meet BPSS eligibility requirements.

If you require any adjustments to allow you take a full and active part in the selection process, please notify us as part of your application. Please note TVS Supply Chain Solutions is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

TVS have signed the Armed Forces covenant and are a forces friendly employer.