Supplier Manager

Overview

About RM

Would you like to help enrich the lives of learners around the world?

At RM, we’ve been pioneers of education technology since 1973. We provide technology and resources to the education sector, supporting over 20 million students and improving educational outcomes worldwide.

What we do helps learners at all stages of their lives, from preschool to higher education and professional qualification; we partner with schools, examination boards, governments, and professional organisations globally to make learning more accessible, more engaging, and more impactful.

RM operates through two divisions: Assessment (digital assessment and marking solutions), Technology (managed services, hardware, and software for schools).

Within the assessment market we are experts in providing solutions for online exam testing and marking and the management and analysis of educational data. We work with government ministries, exam boards and professional awarding bodies for high stakes assessment such as GCSEs, A Levels, and professional qualifications. Each year, our software is used globally to conduct hundreds of thousands of on-screen tests and to mark millions of paper-based scripts. For over a decade we have been partnering with the world’s leading awarding bodies to deliver intuitive, secure, and reliable e-marking solutions.

Visit our website to find out more: www.rm.com/assessment

We encourage early applications as the vacancy may close once the position has been filled or final interviews have been arranged.

Responsibilities

Job purpose

The Supplier Manager has a vital role both in providing ongoing development of the supply chain and in ensuring cost-effective, high-quality service delivery.

The primary functions of this role are to

Own the operational relationship with and manage a number of suppliers

Enable and facilitate effective relationships between suppliers and RM Assessment stakeholders

Deliver proactive management of supplier performance implementing year on year quality improvements, managing delivery to SLA and managing risks

Lead new supplier on-boarding activities when required

Ensure the successful implementation of the Supplier Management framework and processes across a variety of suppliers

Support and respond to bids for new business and to new customer requirements

Support and respond to requests for change in relation to suppliers

Own the oversight and delivery of peak readiness activities for suppliers.

Own and drive the continuous service improvement programme, working collaboratively with suppliers and RM Assessment stakeholders

Responsible for the purchase orders, invoicing and accruals for key RM Assessment suppliers

The job holder will help deliver the supply chain strategy taking responsibility for effective operational supplier management across their suppliers. Key to this is working closely with existing suppliers and key stakeholders within RM at multiple levels of the organisation.

The Supplier Manager will own risks and issues, facilitating the management and resolution of those risks and issues on a case-by-case basis, engaging relevant parties as required.

The Supplier Manager is a key member of the Operations function. The job holder will be responsible for suppliers and services which are integral to the achievement of RM Assessment’s exacting service level agreements, highly visible to RM’s customers and represent a significant proportion of service costs. Supply chain capability and capacity is a key enabler for RM Assessment’s growth within new and existing accounts both in the UK and internationally.

The Supplier Manager will be responsible for building long-term operational relationships with critical suppliers and internal stakeholders and will represent the supply chain to existing and prospective customers when required.

Experience

What we are looking for

• Experience working in Supplier management, service management, vendor management or a similar operational environment.
• Ability to communicate with and influence all levels of an organisation
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to appreciate urgency and the importance of tasks when dealing with conflicting priorities
• Pro-active and innovative approach to identifying issues, opportunities and service improvements
• Experience of managing change and delivering efficiencies from the supply base/ supply chain
• Good attention to detail and the ability to analyze and present information clearly
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong active listening and influencing skills
• High levels of self-motivation, drive and tenacity
• Proficient user of MS Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Able and willing to travel (including international travel)

What’s in it for you?

At RM we have My Work Blend @RM which provides office-based colleagues with multi location and hybrid working options. As well as your office base, you can spend a proportion of your time working at other locations that suit your role and your life, including home, other offices, customer sites, distribution centres or on the move. We encourage you to discuss arrangements for this role with your potential line manager during the recruitment process.

As well as a competitive salary and our core benefits package which includes private medical healthcare, life assurance and a Group Personal Pension Plan with higher contribution levels available. There are lots of voluntary benefits too. You could buy additional annual leave, join our dental plan, sign up for a health assessment, or take part in our cycle to work scheme. You could even earn yourself an extra bonus for successfully recommending a friend or family member for a position within RM.

To better reflect the society that we serve, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. To achieve this, we create teams of talented people from different backgrounds and experiences and strive to be a business where our people can bring their whole selves to work, we also want to make the recruitment process as inclusive as possible for everyone. Should you require additional support with your application or through the interview process, please contact us at [email protected].

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.