Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Lead

About the job

Salary: £60,379 - £63,721 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Fixed Term/Secondment

This position is available as a secondment opportunity till November 2026. If you are a permanent LBC employee, you must have written approval (an email will suffice) from your manager prior to applying and a copy will need to be submitted with your application. Please note: we will not be able to proceed with your application form without your manager’s permission.

Are you a commercially astute procurement professional who can balance strong contract management with positive, collaborative supplier relationships? Do you have the skills to shape contracts that deliver value for money while also driving wider organisational priorities? If so, this could be the role for you.

We are looking for a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Lead to play a pivotal role in ensuring the Council’s contracts do more than deliver services - they actively contribute to our wider policies, strategies, and community outcomes. You will be responsible for embedding Value for Money across all stages of the contract lifecycle while introducing opportunities for improvement and innovation without undermining commercial stability.

As SRM Lead, you will:

• Influence tender documents, evaluation criteria, pricing templates, and contract clauses to maximise outcomes, ensuring liabilities and risks are managed fairly across the contract term.
• Provide a consistent and effective support service for operational contract leads, including learning resources and practical advice, enabling them to manage contracts confidently and effectively.
• Lead on dispute resolution or re-negotiation of strategically significant contracts, applying commercial expertise to secure the best outcomes while maintaining strong provider relationships.
• Introduce and champion the concept of Whole Life Costs (total cost of ownership) in procurement and commissioning processes, ensuring the Council fully considers long-term value and risk management.
• Ensure all contracts enshrine appropriate commitments that contribute to the Council’s strategic objectives alongside core service delivery.

We’re seeking someone with proven experience in supplier relationship management, category/contract leadership, and commercial negotiations. You will combine excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to resolve complex disputes while sustaining positive partnerships. With strong commercial acumen, you will champion innovative approaches to contract management, embedding a culture of Value for Money and continuous improvement.

About you

You will bring substantial experience in delivering both savings and non-cashable benefits through effective supplier relationship and contract management. With a strong background in procurement, markets, and commercial economics, you combine excellent commercial acumen with a deep understanding of how to manage complex contracts strategically.

You will have significant experience leading the development of service performance metrics and shaping outcome - and output - based specifications, working closely with departments as part of the commissioning and procurement process. As a proven leader, you have successfully managed teams and supported staff career development, while also acting on your own initiative to drive positive outcomes across the organisation.

Highly skilled in preparing and presenting complex reports to Senior Management teams, you will be able to translate data and insight into actionable recommendations to support decision-making. Your ability to lead, motivate, and enthuse colleagues - whether directly reporting to you or working across departments - will enable you to foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

You will have up-to-date knowledge of UK procurement legislation and EU directives and be confident in training others on these matters. Your expertise will also extend to the Procurement Act 2023 and Contract Law, with a clear understanding of their impact on market management, finance, and contractual arrangements. With proven experience in developing procurement processes to reflect best practice, you will ensure all activity remains compliant, drawing on professional knowledge and, when necessary, liaising with legal advisors.

Ideally, you will be working towards or already hold membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or otherwise demonstrate equivalent professional knowledge and experience.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application Process

On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.

Benefits

We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel

How to apply

We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!

Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: NEW M6 Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Lead - JD.pdf
• download: Luton_Values_Flyer.pdf