Purpose of the Role
The Environmental and Soft Services Supplier Relationship Lead is a subject matter expert who is responsible for developing and executing the strategy for all Soft Service providers within the Property and Facilities Management (PFM) division. This includes Cleaning, Consumables, machinery, Front of House, Landscaping, Waste, Pest control, Gritting) who deliver services across the managed portfolio. The strategy will establish which suppliers we partner with, how we manage and collaborate with them, and the approach we take to foster innovation and mitigate risk across the division. This role is to ensure that supplier relationships consistently deliver outstanding value, compliance, innovation, and operational resilience throughout the division. The role will work closely with the Safety + and ESG+ Teams, the Head of Supply Chain, the Supply Chain Team and the Suppliers to strengthen relationships across the Property & Facilities Management division.
Key Responsibilities
Environmental and Soft Services Strategy and Delivery
* Act as a subject matter expert in the supply chain team and for the division on all matters related to soft service providers.
* Develop and execute a comprehensive environmental and soft services strategy for across the PFM division outlining the approach to managing our soft service providers that aligns with the division’s overarching business strategy.
* Manage the segmentation of Soft Service providers, ensuring a suitable database of vetted suppliers is maintained and regularly reviewed across all regions and sectors within PM & FM division.
* Establish the governance structure for supplier performance, compliance, and risk management.
* Define the tendering strategy for all Soft Service Providers. Conduct regular spend analysis, market benchmarking and cost modelling to identify cost‑saving and efficiency opportunities.
* Ensure full visibility and awareness of all soft service suppliers supporting the PFM division.
Contract and Supplier Governance
* Define and oversee the contractual framework, including SLAs, KPIs, performance metrics, and risk management protocols.
* Drive Performance Excellence: Lead supplier performance reviews, ensuring compliance and implementing corrective actions where necessary.
* Standards & Compliance: Ensure all suppliers meet legal, regulatory, health & safety, environmental, sustainability, and quality requirements in partnership with the Governance team.
Supplier and Stakeholder Engagement
* Build and maintain strong relationships with all Soft Service providers to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement including Cleaning, Consumables, machinery, Front of House, Landscaping, Waste, Pest control, Gritting.
* Collaborate with internal teams (Surveyors, FM network, Estate Managers, Health & Safety, ESG) to define soft service needs and ensure alignment with business priorities.
* Partner with senior leadership to understand strategic objectives—risk mitigation, cost optimisation, ESG commitments, workforce + strategy—and ensure procurement and supplier outputs deliver against these goals.
* Engage with end‑users to capture requirements and maintain high levels of service satisfaction.
* Work alongside the Safety + and ESG+ Teams to advise on soft services and support wider business initiatives.
* Act as primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and suppliers, ensuring clear communication and alignment with company objectives when delivering Soft Services.
People Leadership
* Set clear objectives in line with company/Divisional/team strategy and to measure performance against these.
* Conduct regular 1:1s, hold team meetings and complete thorough probationary, interim and annual appraisals as per company guidelines.
* Support team members in career development via training (to ensure high skill levels both technically & behaviourally), coaching, mentoring and the promotion and succession/talent processes.
* Adhere to all company processes with regard to people management and role‑model professional behaviours at all times.
* Ensure recruitment is completed professionally and in line with team/divisional/company goals, thinking strategically re future needs and in line with our diversity goals.
* Lead training, awareness, and behavioural change initiatives to embed a positive safety and compliance culture across all levels.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
* Identify and embed best practices and innovation (e.g. new service delivery models, technology, sustainability, digital tools).
* Drive initiatives to improve service efficiency, reduce waste, improve carbon footprint, etc.
The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation.
Skills, Knowledge And Experience
Required Skills & Qualifications
* Significant experience (5+ years) in contract management specifically with Soft Service providers within Real Estate Sector.
* Good Network of Contacts in the Cleaning and Environmental Contracting industry.
* Ability to build collaborative partnerships with Suppliers.
* Project Management: Well‑organised with a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
* Strong commercial acumen; experience delivering cost savings and negotiating complex contracts.
* Good knowledge of Environmental legislation & Understanding of SIA policies & procedures.
* Strong stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills.
* Ability to analyse data, benchmark, perform market research, prepare business cases.
* Knowledge of compliance, health & safety, environmental sustainability as relevant to Soft Services FM.
Desirable
* Educated to degree level or equivalent; supply chain / FM relevant qualification desirable.
* Knowledge of relevant standards or certifications.
Performance Metrics (KPIs)
* Savings / cost avoidance achieved vs target.
* Supplier performance (percentage of SLAs met, quality scores, risk mitigation, compliance).
* Contract renewal on time; number of contract disputes.
* Timeliness of procurement processes and tenders.
* Stakeholder satisfaction / service user satisfaction.
* Compliance with legal, regulatory, H&S requirements.
* Sustainability metrics (waste reduction, carbon emissions, etc.) if applicable.
Working Hours - Full‑Time. Role is UK based with extensive travel throughout the UK visiting sites, clients and internal stakeholders. It is a pre‑requisite of applying for the role that this is acceptable. The team will be based in Manchester so there will be the requirement to spend time in the Manchester office.
Please see our Benefits Booklet for more information.
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