Strategic & Commercial Supply Chain Lead

Strategic Commercial Supply Chain Lead

Develops, executes, and continuously improves comprehensive sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories. This role acts as the internal business owner for their portfolio, driving total cost optimization, supplier performance, risk mitigation, commercial and framework negotiation and alignment with organizational governance.

Strategy & Category Management

• Category Roadmaps: Build and implement long-term category strategies based on total spend analysis, market dynamics, and business priorities.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor supply market trends, competitor behaviour, and emerging innovations to identify new opportunities or potential disruptions.
• Demand Management: Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (Estimating, Commercial, Operations, and Supply Chain) to forecast demand and streamline product or service portfolios.
• Supplier consolidation and spend leverage, including identifying opportunities to reduce supplier numbers where appropriate and maximise the benefit of our buying power across SI.

Strategic Sourcing & Execution

• End-to-End Sourcing: Lead competitive sourcing partnership processes, including Requests for Information (RFIs), Pre-Qualification (PQQ), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and Invitations to Tender (ITT).
• Business partnering with Operations, Commercial and Estimating to ensure supply chain strategy supports operational delivery, client outcomes and work winning.
• Commercial Negotiation: Negotiate high-Medium Low value, industry lead framework agreements to secure optimal pricing, favourable terms, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Risk & Governance: Ensure all sourcing activities comply with internal procurement policies, regulatory requirements, and gate-review governance processes.

Vendor Relationship Management (VRM)

• Vendor Compliance & Onboarding : Drive full end to end compliance review and vendor onboarding ensuring vendors are fit for use within the organizational division.
• Performance Tracking: Set and monitor supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous operational excellence.
• Supply Chain Performance Management Clear performance measures and accountabilities, such as cost savings delivered, supplier performance, risk reduction and framework utilisation
• Supply chain risk management, including financial stability, capacity, material availability and single-source supplier exposure
• Value Optimization: Foster strategic partnerships with core vendors to unlock continuous cost savings, innovation, and sustainable practices.

Qualifications & Requirements / Education & Experience / Role accountability

• Delivering: Measurable Savings
• Improve: Vendor Performance
• Reducing: Supply Chain Risk
• Building: Creating and Building on Vendor Relationships.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management within construction supply chain environments.
• Education: Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Commercial, or a related field.
• Credentials: Professional procurement certification is preferred but not essential provided there is a proven track record of experience.

Knowledge & Skills

• Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable cost reductions, value creation, and financial KPIs.
• Analytical Ability: Advanced data analysis skills with the capacity to interpret large spend datasets and market trends.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence leadership and collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Contractual / Framework Literacy: Working knowledge of contractual terms, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies.

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.