Location Milton Keynes, GB Department Name NJ Material & Logistics General (618717) G2 About Network Rail Join Our Team at Network Rail Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here. Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance. We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. Brief Description Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway. See the diagram for a breakdown of our services. To learn more, please click here to watch our video. This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway. SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customers moving – making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule. About The Role (External) In this role, you’ll take the lead on driving commercial success, overseeing contract and delivery initiatives that directly support our business goals. You’ll collaborate closely with stakeholders and foster strong, strategic relationships with key customers. Additionally, you’ll play a vital role in maximising value by shaping and executing innovative supplier strategies, all while building and nurturing impactful partnerships with our key suppliers to Network Rail. Key accountabilities include: Lead the management of commercial and delivery activity within a given category, product and/or service. Lead and inspire a team to drive the development, efficiency and effectiveness of individuals and the team as a whole. Lead the development of any customer relationships for which the team is responsible.Work collaboratively to develop and implement innovative strategies which meet business requirements, maximising benefits and efficiency opportunities and minimising risk. Lead the development of robust business-wide demand and prioritised opportunity forecasts for category spend. Maximise commercial advantage for the company by promoting cross-functional decision making and total cost of ownership principles, and monitor compliance to category objectives. Lead the communication of scope and benefits of strategies to senior, cross functional customers and stakeholders to gain their endorsement. Own demand data and regularly communicate requirements to the supply market Sponsor the delivery of all sourcing and post contract management activities to meet the needs of the category strategy, customers and stakeholders, integrating safety and sustainability throughout the process. Maintain ownership of required outputs and benefits. Lead the management of physical supply chain and logistics activities required to meet the needs of the customer. Monitor and manage performance against defined measures in order to continuously improve and develop the relevant category strategy, products and services Lead the development of a range of complex strategic suppliers and manage relationships to deliver business benefit and performance optimisation from both supplier and Network Rail perspectives. Manage and comply with company procedures to provide appropriate resources, communication strategies, training and competencies, and evaluate fitness of staff to safely deliver their accountabilities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following: Essential Criteria Strategic outlook, including the ability to drive delivery of strategic objectives. Understanding and application of best practice supply chain management within relevant market. Proven track record of benefits delivery (financial and non-financial). Highly skilled senior relationship manager experienced in managing end-to-end client, customer and supplier relationships. Proven ability to lead and manage teams. Advanced influencing and negotiation skills to develop mutually beneficial relationships. Executive level stakeholder relationship management capability. Educated to degree level or equivalent professional education, or experience. Experienced in managing cross functional teams. Desirable criteria To be an acknowledged market, technology and category subject matter expert. Proven commercial track record in capital intensive, asset rich industries. Actively participation in relevant industry bodies. Subject matter expertise for the given supply market. How To Apply (External) Vacancy type: Permanent. Location: The Quadrant: MK. Hours: up to 35 hours per week with hybrid working and travel as required.Flexible working and job shares can be considered. Salary range: Band 2B.£71,163 – £80,060 per annum, depending on skills and experience. Closing date: 11 November 2024. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally. You will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria, please complete this as part of the application process and also add this to your CV in one document. At Network Rail you will have a clear development path, access to training and enjoy a range of employee benefits, such as; up to 28 days annual leave, rail travel subsidies, a range of pension options, flexible and agile working arrangements, discounts on shopping, gym memberships and much more. Click here to find out more about our benefits. Click ‘Apply now’ to submit your application. If you would like to speak the Resourcing Team, please contact RSResourcingnetworkrail.co.uk If you would like to know more about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Ross Theobald, at ross.theobaldnetworkrail.co.uk If you would like any reasonable adjustments support during your application or throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist. Below are some examples of adjustments we can make: Changing a provision, practice or ‘the way things are done’ For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed. Changing a physical feature of our workplace For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs. Providing extra equipment or assistance For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available. There are lots of other adjustments we can consider – please just ask The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following: Competency Based Interview Presentation Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email. For further information about how we recruit, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/how-we-recruit/ Drugs and Alcohol Standard: All prospective external candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.