Contract: Day Rate (Inside IR35 if UK Based)
Location: Dublin or Reading (Hybrid)
Travel: International travel required quarterly, regular travel between HQs.
A major global retailer is seeking a GBS Partner Management Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping and managing strategic relationships with key external service partners. Reporting to the Head of Global Business Services, this role is a critical enabler of GBS success - ensuring strong governance, contractual compliance, cost control, and continuous improvement across a global service landscape.
This position will champion value creation, innovation, and alignment with the organisation’s strategic, CSR, and D&I objectives, driving sustainable impact across the business.
What You’ll Do
Partner Relationship Management
* Proactively manage and develop strategic relationships with global service partners
* Define, embed, and evolve governance processes and routines
* Act as the primary liaison with external partners
Governance & Compliance
* Establish and maintain partner governance frameworks, including performance reviews and escalation protocols
* Ensure contractual compliance by tracking SLAs, KPIs, and key terms
* Resolve or expedite conflicts and non‑compliance issues promptly
Performance & Cost Monitoring
* Monitor partner spend and ensure alignment with budget expectations
* Analyse cost trends and identify optimisation opportunities
* Provide regular reporting on partner performance, cost, and compliance metrics
* Manage and monitor demand and capacity across partner engagements
Contract Management
* Oversee the full lifecycle of partner contracts—from negotiation and execution to renewal and termination
* Ensure all contracts comply with company policies, legal requirements, and business objectives
* Collaborate with Procurement and Legal to review and update contract terms
* Maintain accurate contract documentation and track key milestones
* Identify and mitigate contractual risks, ensuring timely resolution
* Support commercial and financial management by tracking contract value, spend, and performance
Strategic Enablement
* Align partner capabilities with evolving business needs
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives across partner engagementsSupport contract negotiations and renewals with data‑driven insights
What You’ll Bring
* 5–8 years’ experience in global services, including 2–5 years in a supplier‑management leadership role
* Strong knowledge of contract management, legal experience with contracts, SLAs, and governance frameworks
* Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
* Experience managing large partnership deals, ideally within retail
* Proven capability in commercial negotiations, tendering, and supplier management
* Strong relationship‑building skills and the ability to support business strategy
* Experience in research, analysis, and project management (Agile or traditional)
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