Vendor Engagement Lead

Xcede; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcede is seeking two Vendor Engagement Lead positions to drive the vulnerability management transformation for a major technology programme. You will engage with strategic vendors, assess capabilities, and steer remediation outcomes while operating across technology and business teams.

The roles require senior stakeholder engagement at VP/AVP levels, with remote work and periodic London travel. Inside IR35 and 3–6 month initial contracts are offered.

Qualifications

• Strong experience engaging and managing relationships with major technology, infrastructure or security vendors.
• Good understanding of vulnerability management and patch management processes.
• Experience operating within large, complex technology environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Comfort engaging with senior stakeholders and translating complex information into clear recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior‑level discussions with major infrastructure, security and technology vendors.
• Assess vendor capabilities, approaches and proposed solutions.
• Challenge vendors to improve remediation outcomes where needed.
• Translate complex technical and programme information into clear recommendations.
• Consolidate information from multiple vendors and internal teams to identify themes and risks.
• Facilitate workshops and executive‑level discussions.
• Work with programme leadership to shape recommendations and next steps.
• Track actions through to completion and ensure alignment with programme objectives.
• Help accelerate outcomes across the vulnerability and patch management transformation.

Skills

Vendor engagement

Stakeholder management

Vulnerability management

Executive communication

Program delivery

Tools

Microsoft Copilot

AI productivity tools

Job description

Vendor Engagement Lead – Vulnerability Management Programme

3–6 Month Initial Contract | Inside IR35 | £600–700 per day | Remote with occasional London travel

I’m currently recruiting for two Vendor Engagement Lead positions supporting a major technology transformation programme for a global investment banking organisation.

The programme is a board-priority vulnerability and patch management transformation, focused on improving the way vulnerabilities are identified, managed and remediated across a complex global technology estate.

We’re looking for senior professionals at VP / AVP or Senior Manager level who can lead engagement with strategic technology vendors, challenge existing approaches, identify opportunities for improvement and ultimately help drive the programme forward.

The Role

You’ll sit across the programme, technology teams and external vendors, acting as a key point of engagement between the organisation and its strategic technology partners.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading senior‑level discussions with major infrastructure, security and technology vendors
• Assessing vendor capabilities, approaches and proposed solutions
• Challenging vendors where appropriate and identifying opportunities to improve remediation outcomes
• Understanding complex technical and programme information and turning it into clear recommendations
• Bringing together information from multiple vendors and internal teams to identify themes, risks and opportunities
• Facilitating workshops and executive‑level discussions
• Working closely with programme leadership to shape recommendations and next steps
• Tracking actions through to completion and ensuring vendors remain aligned with programme objectives
• Helping accelerate outcomes across the wider vulnerability and patch management transformation

You’ll ideally have:

• Strong experience engaging and managing relationships with major technology, infrastructure or security vendors
• Good understanding of vulnerability management, patch management, technology lifecycle or cyber risk
• Experience operating within large, complex technology environments
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and facilitation skills
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and executive‑level audiences
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to consolidate complex information and produce clear recommendations
• A pragmatic approach to programme delivery and getting actions over the line
• Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot and AI productivity tools
• Experience within banking, financial services or another highly regulated environment would be highly beneficial

The Environment

This is a high‑profile programme within a global investment banking organisation, being delivered alongside a major technology services and infrastructure provider.

The programme has significant senior‑level visibility, so this role would suit someone who is comfortable operating at VP / Senior Manager level, influencing senior stakeholders and working across both technical and commercial conversations.

There are two positions available, with opportunities at VP and AVP level.

Contract Details

• Initial contract: 3–6 months
• Rate: £600–700 per day
• IR35: Inside IR35
• Location: Predominantly remote
• London: Occasional onsite attendance for important meetings and workshops

If you have a strong background in vendor engagement, cyber/infrastructure programmes or vulnerability management and are comfortable operating with senior stakeholders, I’d be keen to speak with you.