East West Railway Company
Supplier Relationship Manager
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**Supplier Relationship Manager |
East West Railway Company**
The nationally significant East West Rail (EWR) programme is delivering vital transport connections between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, supporting growth in some of the UK’s most dynamic centres of education, business, and technology. Boosting the local economy by £111 billion annually, EWR is a £17 billion infrastructure project championed by the UK Government to unlock economic opportunities, housing, and regeneration—creating potential for a £78 billion economic uplift.
We are seeking a Supplier Relationship Manager to support the strategic management of supplier relationships, ensuring strong performance, value for money, and collaborative delivery across the supply chain.
About the Role
This role is responsible for: Developing and managing strategic supplier relationships critical to the success of the EWR programme. As the primary point of contact, you will drive supplier performance, mitigate risks, and enhance delivery through close collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
The Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) plays a key role in ensuring supplier partnerships deliver maximum value while managing risks and supporting successful programme outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Stakeholder Management & Supplier Engagement
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers supporting the EWR programme.
- Act as the primary single point of contact for supplier relationship-related activities, including contract and performance oversight.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Commercial, Programme Delivery, Finance, other departments) to ensure aligned supplier engagement.
Performance & Risk Management
- Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations, KPIs, and service levels.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and governance meetings, identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation.
- Identify and manage supplier-related risks, escalating issues as required to ensure timely resolution.
- Manage and mitigate supplier-related risks through proactive measures and clear governance frameworks.
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Value & Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous improvement with suppliers to enhance performance, cost efficiency, and delivery outcomes.
- Support the development and implementation of supplier management strategies tailored to EWR’s needs.
- Ensure supplier compliance with contractual requirements and governance processes, including issuing PA23 performance notices where necessary.
Reporting & Governance Support
- Provide insight and reporting on supplier performance and relationship health to senior stakeholders.
- Advise the Commercial team on supplier disputes, performance concerns, and improvement plans.
- Promote collaborative working behaviours across the supply chain to foster long-term partnering relationships.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience in Supplier Relationship Management, Contract Management, or Commercial Management.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including building and maintaining trust with external suppliers and internal teams.
- Excellent communication and influencing abilities (both verbal and written).
- Experience in managing supplier performance using KPIs, governance frameworks, and performance reviews.
- Good understanding of procurement/certification lifecycles and contract management fundamentals.
- Ability to identify and manage supplier risks while ensuring operational continuity.
- Skills in analysing supplier data and translating insights into effective reports.
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Desirable
- Experience creating Power BI dashboards for performance reporting.
- Background in complex infrastructure, construction, rail, or public sector environments.
- Familiarity with procurement systems such as SAP or Jaggaer.
What We Offer
It’s important for us to make sure that we offer you an exciting and challenging role with your personal and professional growth at the heart of everything we do. We are ambitious for East West Rail, and we want to support you with exciting opportunities and new challenges to help you thrive.
- Competitive salary aligned to your experience
- 12% employer pension contribution to secure your financial future
- 36 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) + 2 voluntary purchase days
- 2 days’ paid volunteering opportunity to give back to your community
- Family-friendly policies supporting work-life balance and parental needs
- Life assurance (4× annual salary)
- Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential support
- Perkbox discounts on travel, entertainment, retail, and wellbeing services
- Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to support your career growth
Diversity & Inclusion
At East West Railway Company, we are committed to building an inclusive railway for all, reflecting the diverse communities we serve.
Our culture is one where everyone belongs—where differences are celebrated, respect is mutual, and there’s always room for growth. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.
This is your opportunity to contribute to a transformative project while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
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