Procurement & Supplier Relationship Manager

Overview

• Contract: Permanent
• Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
• This is a hybrid working role, so you’ll need to be able to work from our Head Office a minimum of one day per week
• Hours per week: 37
• Salary: £42,000 - £45,000 depending on experience

About the role

We're excited to be looking for a Procurement & Supplier Relationship Manager to play a key role in shaping and delivering effective procurement, supplier relationship and commercial management practices across the organisation.

Reporting to the Head of Procurement and Supply, you'll work collaboratively within a small but busy Procurement, Supply and Legal Team. We're looking for an individual who can build trusted relationships with Heads of Department and other key stakeholders, acting as the link between suppliers, the Procurement, Supply and Legal function, and the wider business.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working across the full supplier lifecycle, from procurement and sourcing activities through to supplier performance, resilience, risk management and strategic relationship development. You'll work with a diverse portfolio of suppliers and business areas, helping to drive value, service improvement and innovation whilst supporting the organisation's long-term strategic objectives.

With strong communication and stakeholder management skills, you'll have the opportunity to influence decision-making, strengthen supplier resilience and contribute to the continued development of a function that supports the delivery of critical services across a regulated environment.

How you’ll make an impact

Build strong and trusted relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, acting as a strategic business partner and key link between suppliers and the wider business

Contribute to the delivery of the Procurement and Supply Strategy, ensuring procurement and supplier management activities align with best practice, public procurement legislation (where applicable) and organisational policies

Lead the delivery of NCFE's organisational resilience programme, supporting supplier resilience, continuity planning and risk mitigation activities

Coordinate and deliver procurement activities, including sourcing exercises, tenders and supplier evaluations, working closely with stakeholders to understand business requirements and secure best-value outcomes

Develop meaningful supplier and supply chain insights, using performance data and reporting to support informed business decisions

Drive successful business outcomes through proactive supplier relationship management, performance improvement, innovation and value realisation

Review and maintain supplier governance, risk, compliance and business continuity arrangements to support contractual and regulatory obligations

We’d love to hear from you if you offer the following:

Proven ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels

Demonstrable experience developing and managing strategic supplier and contract relationships

Experience driving supplier performance, service improvement and value across business-critical services

Experience of supplier governance, risk management, compliance and resilience activities

Experience delivering procurement activities, including sourcing exercises and tender processes

A track record of delivering value, innovation and service improvement through supplier and commercial arrangements

Experience of supplier governance, risk management, compliance and resilience activities

The ability to work collaboratively, challenge constructively and drive positive outcomes across multiple stakeholders

Feeling inspired? Read the full Job Description

What will we offer you in return?

Below are just some of the fantastic benefits we’ll offer you to support you both professionally and personally. You can also visit our Life at NCFE page which covers financial, physical and mental health support, time off and your development.

Annual leave starting at 25 days and increasing up to 30 days with length of service

8 bank holidays and an additional 3 days off during the Christmas closure

YOU celebration day to celebrate your birthday or another life event

YOU hour allowing you one hour per month to spend time on something that promotes your wellbeing

Learning and Wellbeing fund of up to £200 per year

£400 towards any NCFE accredited qualifications per year

Up to 20 Volunteering hours per year

Flexible working culture with a hybrid working approach

Early finish on a Friday at 4:30pm to start your weekend early

Health cash plan through Westfield to claim towards health costs such as dental and optical

Tech and Home scheme with savings at Currys and IKEA

Employee Assistance Programme with a confidential helpline and access to face to face and telephone counselling

Pension of up to 9% employer contribution when you contribute 3%

Death in service payment worth 4 x your salary

In addition to our benefits package, Our Colleague Experience Charter sets out the unique experience you can expect when working at NCFE, to enable a thriving, engaged culture. You can find out more about our Colleague Experience Charter and working life at NCFE.

Shape real change with an NCFE career

Imagine a career where your contributions affect not only what people learn, but the way that learning is developed and delivered.

With over 170 years of education experience our core purpose remains at the heart of the organisation – to promote and advance learning to create a fairer, more inclusive society, making sure no learner is left behind.

Want to know more? Take a look at our website https://www.ncfe.org.uk/

How to apply

• Before applying, please note that we require all candidates to be able to demonstrate proof of Right to Work in the UK.
• Ready to join us and shape real change? Apply with your CV if you have the commitment to excel in this position.
• Closing Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
• Interview Date: Tuesday 17 November 2026

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) statement

We're committed to building rich diversity into our workforce at all levels, to ensure that we understand and are representative of the communities and customers we serve.

We do not discriminate against anyone due to their gender, sexuality, race, age, religion, beliefs, identity, social background, visible or hidden disability, or neurodiversity. Instead, we pride ourselves on our collaborative, vibrant and high-performance culture which embraces everyone, celebrates uniqueness, and enables everyone's voice to be heard.