Head of Supplier Management

We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life. 

Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.  

Are you ready to take the reins and lead our supplier management team to new heights? We’re on the lookout for a Head of Supplier Management to join our talented team!

So what will a Head of Supplier Management do? You'll be responsible for creating and managing a detailed control framework to ensure delivery of FCIM and 1CU contracted KPIs and SLAs, provide first line assurance of suppliers, mitigate poor performance, provide input to supplier selection and strategies, and ensure governance of the suppliers is in line with the FC Group framework.

You’ll build, maintain and leverage value from existing and future supplier relationships, establishing deeper strategic relationships so that both FCIM and supply networks can innovate and grow together.

You’ll also lead a high performing team of supplier managers and executives, managing a diverse portfolio of objectives and deliverables, and will motivate and direct the team to achieve business goals.

Are you passionate about supplier management and want to make a real impact? This could be you!

You’ll be great in this role if you have:

• Experience of supplier management
• Strong internal and external stakeholder management experience
• Strong Governance experience and skills

Here’s a glimpse of what we can offer:

• Starting salary from £95,000, depending on experience
• Monday to Friday, no weekends!
• 30 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and an extra 'You' day off for important occasions or just a day for you!
• Fully supportive team throughout
• £100 off your car insurance
• A fun, vibrant and busy place to work

What’s involved:

• You’ll establish the control framework and policy for the consistent management of all suppliers, including but not limited to, a regular review of the Balanced Business Scorecard which should operate within the Group’s overall supplier management framework
• You’ll demonstrate oversight of suppliers delivering good customer outcomes. After all our customers are key!
• You’ll monitor and oversee all third-party services and outsourced functions with the relevant providers to ensure all performance targets are met
• You’ll ensure provision of first line assurance of suppliers
• You’ll ensure delivery of supplier KPIs, and mitigation of poor performance, including recommendation and implementation of sanctions
• You’ll act as point of liaison between operating teams and suppliers, ensuring regular dialogue is in place and issues are addressed efficiently
• You’ll be involved in ongoing review, selection and removal of strategic or tactical partnerships
• You’ll manage the supplier audit timetable and govern remedial actions
• You’ll optimise cost and income performance of supplier networks
• You’ll ensure supplier customer service delivery is aligned to core business
• You’ll build and maintaining strategic relationships with all suppliers
• You’ll liaise with stakeholders in Operations, Technical Claims and Fraud regarding suppliers, supplier relationships and supplier audits
• You’ll provide excellent leadership to all direct reports and to the teams through regular coaching and 121’s giving clear guidance and supporting career progression
• You’ll act as a mentor to relevant Managers with regards to people management skills and the delivery of an efficient high performing function
• You’ll maintain and develop current industry knowledge, identify new developments in customer service propositions and customer claim fulfilment
• You’ll ensure compliance with company and other relevant standards / regulations at all times
• You’ll ensure compliance with the Group’s overall supplier management framework and Group Outsourcing and Procurement and Supplier Management Policies 
• You’ll build a strong relationship with the central Supplier Assurance Team and ensure active participation in the Group Supplier Management Forum continues 
• You’ll maintain department risk registers (as applicable), providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintaining control matrices and attestations.
• You’ll ensure that your team are aware of their responsibility to identify and report risk.
• You’ll comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times

Experience

• You’ve experience of managing supplier service provision in an FCA regulated environment.
• You’ve experience of driving performance through focussing on continual improvement
• You’ve experience of developing strong internal and external relationships and working collaboratively to unlock value
• You’ve strong service ethos, promoter of continuous improvement and customer engagement
• You’ve proven to manage diverse workloads and prioritise accordingly
• You’ve experience in Team Management

Skills & Qualifications

• CII qualification or recognised supplier management related qualification is preferable
• You’re a great communicator, both verbal and written and adaptable for varying audiences.
• You’re able to build and nurture effective multi-level relationships
• You’re structured but able to adapt to changing priorities
• You’re confident in presenting information
• You’ve got leadership and people management skills. You’ve the ability to motivate employees in a high pressurised environment and create the condition for colleagues to grow and develop. You’re the spark that keeps the team going.
• You’ve got the skills to influence and negotiate
• Organisation, timekeeping and structure are second nature to you
• You’ve got problem-solving skills with the ability to adopt a logical approach to resolving problems
• You’ve got strong numeracy skills
• You’ve got competent technical skills dependent on functional expertise

Knowledge

• You’ve expert knowledge of supplier management principles and outsource service models
• You’ve got knowledge of specialist supplier management and procurement software
• You’ve detailed knowledge of relevant markets including UK insurance and outsourcing
• You’ll have a good understanding of the business objectives
• You’ve knowledge of FCA requirements
   

Behaviours

• You’re commercially focused and ready to make smart decisions
• You’re self-motivated and enthusiastic
• You’ll embrace, embed, and incorporate the Company values in everything you do
• You’re confident in your abilities but always looking to challenge yourself and grow
• You’re ambitious, proactive, and results-oriented with a ‘can do’ attitude
• You’re target-driven and results-focused, with a strong drive to succeed
• You’re organised and proactive, ready to meet changing demands head-on
• You’ll take initiative to make decisions
• You’ve got a sharp eye for detail and accuracy
• You’ve a flexible approach to work and adopts a positive attitude
• You’ll strive to deliver performance targets and drive business improvements to contribute to our success

This role is Certified in line with the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR)

So, what are you waiting for? Apply today!

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here. 

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.