Senior Supplier Relationship Manager (Under Procurement)

Senior Supplier Relationship Manager:

Duration: 2 year FTC
Location:York London Manchester
Salary: 52000 to 65000
Closing date:5th Novemeber 2025 Reports to: Head of Commercial Governance and Assurance

DFTO Benefits:

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

About DFT Operator

Join Our Team at DFTO

DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO) is the public sector owning group behind four key train operators: LNER Northern Southeastern and TransPennine Express. Were here to make your rail journeys smoother safer and more reliable. Since taking on LNER in 2018 weve focused on delivering better train services enhancing customer experiences and boosting performance across the network. Today DFTO helps 270 million passenger journeys happen each year with a team of nearly 17000 dedicated colleagues. We now manage 25% of Britains railway and are committed to shaping the future of train travel to better serve passengers.

We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient dependable rail services for everyone.

Primary Purpose of Job:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced strategic supplier relationship and risk manager to work within the DFTO group procurement function.

This role is one of two that will operate within the Group procurement team and across DFTO train operators supporting category & Toc relationships.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial Governance and Assurance the purpose of this newly created role is to support DFTO group procurement as part of the railway public ownership program to strategically develop central supplier relationship and risk management strategies across DFTO and our Train operators.

Taking a strategic lead on behalf of DFTO and its group train operators the role will be responsible for:

• developing and implementing strategies to understand and ensure the resilience and efficiency of third-party supply chains;
• developing and facilitating tools to manage and mitigate supply chain risk;
• supporting strategically important supplier relationships to meet the policy requirements provide value for money and align with the wider industry strategic context;
• creating and delivering a robust commercially focused performance management framework for key suppliers
• and supporting collaborative relationships to build clear lines of communication and coordination between DFTO and its suppliers.

Key Competencies:

Communicate & Influence:

• Communicate with others in a clear honest and enthusiastic way to build trust with TOCs external stakeholders suppliers DfT and other government bodies.
• Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand considering peoples individual needs. Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity being persuasive when required.
• Consider the impact of the language used. Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others. Introduce different methods for communication including making the most of digital resources whilst getting value for money.

Working Together:

• Encourage joined up teamwork within teams and other groups.
• Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another.
• Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team including consideration of your own needs.

Changing and Improving:

• Seek out opportunities for innovation and have the courage to take risks and make step changes to how things are done. Give feedback on changes in a constructive manner.
• Take a positive open approach to the possibility of change and encourage others to do the same.
• Help others to understand changes and the reasons they are being put in place. Identify and act on the effects changes are having on your role and that of the team. Look for ways to use technology to achieve efficient and effective results. Consider accessibility needs of the diverse range of end users.

Delivering at Pace:

• Ensure everyone clearly understands and owns their roles responsibilities and business priorities.
• Set out clear processes and standards for managing performance at all levels.
• Ensure delivery of timely quality outcomes through providing the right resources to do the job reviewing and adjusting performance expectations and rewarding success.
• Maintain your own levels of performance in challenging circumstances and encourage others to do the same.

Key Responsibilities

Typically the key responsibilities in this role will include (but are not limited to):

• Strategy/Framework Development (Plan)
• Develop implement and manage SRM and risk management frameworks with engagement strategies that can operate across the group to ensure alignment with strategic objectives optimize value and minimise risk through the supplier lifecycle.
• Develop and implement supply chain risk management strategies working across industry partners and operators to facilitate joint risk management practices and sharing of
• information to support operational delivery supply chain sustainability and ensure compliance with required regulation and legislation as may be required regulation and legislation as may be required.

Process Development (Build)

• Lead & Support the adoption of tools and standardised processes identifying and influencing key stakeholder or operator leads and support train operator requirements.
• Design and lead the implementation and management of supplier due diligence onboarding and management processes within DFTO purchasing and procurement.

Capability Development (Build)

• Work closely with train operators and DFTO to develop core competencies and methods to support the implementation of corporate initiatives and provide oversight and advice to enable the right commercial approach to be taken in the management of key suppliers fostering collaborative relationships with suppliers and the train operators where there are multiple operator interfaces across the same supply partners.

Supplier/Stakeholder Engagement (Run)

• Work collaboratively internally and externally to develop and deliver DFTO stakeholder and supplier communication plans and methods ensure consistency of messaging across TOCs Industry & supply chains and to enable escalation of key strategic supplier performance or relationship issues across DFTO and its Operators.

Performance Management (Run)

• Oversee top level strategic contracts or central contracts where appropriate at DFTO.
• Lead the management of strategic level supply chain relationships and risks and act as point of escalation working with train operators to carry out supplier risk assessment audit or due diligence reviews as may be required.
• Establish monitor and report on key supplier performance metrics and contract adherence at a central industry level ensuring alignment with Operators.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders ensure that risks appropriately recorded or escalated and managed through correct governance processes operationally and strategically.

Continuous Improvement (Run)

Collaborate with procurement legal safety and operational teams to embed and drive continuous improvement of supplier risk management practices and processes across the organisation leveraging data and best practice insights.

Build and lead on strategic partnerships for the DFTO and TOC sourcing teams to identify opportunities for joint innovation efficiencies and value creation.

Knowledge Skills Experience & Technical Qualifications:

The post holder must have significant experience in the management of strategic supplier relationships and risk or contract management with proper regard to the contract and the commercial obligations set out and ideally a proven track-record of success of managing and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders and of driving out increased performance and value whilst managing risk; with Extensive experience specifically required in:

Strategy and Policy Development:

• Proven track record of developing and implementing SRM and risk management strategies.
• Ability to operate successfully and deliver within a challenging and complex environment with experience of managing strategic suppliers.
• Has practical experience in the development and implementation of business unit strategies and processes through contracts and can challenge risk averse behaviours where appropriate.

Understands and the ability to practically apply the procurement rules & associated legislation and link them to the implementation of policy objectives.

Risk and Assurance Management:

• Demonstrates the ability to analyse risks and understand margins of error in developing recommendations and making effective decisions.
• Experience of successful working with a range of clients and stakeholders in an assurance capacity.

Commercial Ethics:

• Demonstrates the ability to communicate standards to eliminate corruption fraud and unethical behaviour in supply chains taking appropriate actions in the event of any alleged breach of standards

Build Relationships:

• Able to engage and influence challenging senior stakeholders. Encourage feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with key and senior stakeholders.
• Has strong stakeholder engagement skills and can present technical advice successfully in order to influence internal and external decision making.
• Demonstrates the ability to articulate commercial motivations and expected behaviours of stakeholders suppliers and networks.

Politically astute able to navigate internal politics at all levels. Understand and manage conflicting agendas.

(How to apply)

Additional Information

Internal Only Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments please contact HM / Resourcer

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is available on either a Fixed Term Contract basis or as an Industry secondment. Should anyone be applying for a secondment please ensure you notify your line manager prior to applying for the opportunity.

About our people and the recruitment process - Were an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly as we know traditional working patterns dont always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly just let us know and well do our best to help and invest in your career with us whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Equity Statement

At DFTO we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are valued. We believe that diversity enriches our team and contributes to our success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and we are dedicated to providing equal opportunities regardless of race colour religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age or other status. We strive to foster an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We actively promote practices that ensure fairness eliminate biases and support the growth and development of all employees. Join us in our mission to create a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve and fosters a culture of equity and inclusion. Together we can build a brighter future where every voice is heard every idea is valued and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.