Job Description

Location:
Haywards Heath or Manchester
Salary:
50,000 to 55,000, depending on experience
Department:
Customer & Operations

We're 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that's the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!


Looking for a role where you can make a real impact on supplier performance and governance? As the Supplier Management Governance & Audit Lead, you'll be the driving force behind ensuring suppliers in Customer & Operations meet company policies, legal requirements, and industry standards. From leading audits to assessing supplier risks and finding ways to continuously improve relationships and efficiency, you'll play a key role in keeping our supply chain running smoothly.


If you're passionate about compliance, strategy, and making a difference, this could be the perfect fit for 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 Experience in third party supplier auditing

Here's a glimpse of what we can offer:

Starting salary from 50,000 to 55,000, depending on experience

Monday to Friday, no weekends!

25 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 lead and manage supplier governance and audit activities to ensure compliance with internal policies, legal standards, and regulatory requirements. You'll conduct periodic audits and assessments of suppliers to evaluate performance, compliance, and risk. You'll develop and implement supplier management frameworks, governance models, and audit methodologies. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., procurement, legal, and compliance) to ensure alignment on supplier management objectives and strategies. You'll monitor and evaluate supplier risk levels, recommending mitigation actions and strategies to reduce potential disruptions or non-compliance. You'll prepare and deliver regular reports on audit findings, supplier performance, and governance issues to senior leadership. You'll maintain a centralised database for tracking supplier audit results, compliance statuses, and performance metrics. You'll drive continuous improvement initiatives within supplier relationships and management processes, identifying opportunities to optimise performance and reduce costs. You'll establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring clear communication and mutual understanding of performance expectations. You'll stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory changes impacting supplier governance and audits. You'll provide guidance and training to internal teams on supplier management and governance standards. You'll support the resolution of supplier-related disputes, ensuring timely and effective resolution in alignment with company policies. You'll comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times You'll ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times.

Experience & Knowledge

You've proven experience in supplier management, governance, and audit processes with Motor Claims. You've a strong understanding of supply chain management principles, vendor relations, and contract management. You've extensive experience in conducting supplier audits, risk assessments, and compliance evaluations. You've an in-depth knowledge of industry regulations, standards, and legal requirements related to supplier management. You've experience in implementing and managing governance frameworks and risk management strategies for suppliers. You're familiar with supplier performance metrics, KPIs, and methods for evaluating supplier effectiveness. You've knowledge of supplier relationship management tools and software, with experience in maintaining supplier databases and reporting systems. You've experience in developing and delivering training programs on supplier governance and compliance. You've knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean) and their application to supplier management and auditing processes.

Skills

You've strong knowledge and practical experience in supplier governance, compliance, and audit management. You've the ability to assess, identify, and mitigate supplier-related risks effectively. You've the strong ability to analyse complex data, identify trends, and derive actionable insights and recommendations. You've got problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve supplier-related issues and disputes promptly and effectively. You'll keep multiple projects on track, making sure everything runs smoothly and gets done on time. You're a great communicator, both verbal and written. You can convey complex information clearly to stakeholders at all levels. You've the ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external. You've got the skills to influence and negotiate. You can manage supplier contracts, resolve conflicts, and drive mutually beneficial outcomes. You've got a sharp eye for detail and accuracy, ensuring consistency in audits, compliance checks, and reporting. You've got strong leadership and team collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and guide internal staff on supplier governance. You've an in-depth understanding of relevant industry regulations and standards related to supplier management. You've a strong focus on identifying opportunities for process improvement within supplier management and audit processes. Organisation, timekeeping and structure are second nature to you. We are agile! You've the ability to work to tight deadlines and to prioritise many conflicting and frequently changing priorities You're not fazed by computers and software. You're familiar with supplier management software and auditing tools, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Behaviours

You take ownership of responsibilities and outcomes, ensuring actions and decisions align with organisational goals. You take initiative to identify opportunities for improvement and addresses challenges before they escalate. You consistently ensure accuracy and thoroughness in audits, supplier evaluations, and reporting. You can work effectively within cross-functional teams, sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues to achieve common objectives. Teamwork makes the dream work! You've a flexible approach to work and open to changes, adjusting strategies and processes as needed in a dynamic environment. You maintain focus and composure when facing challenges or setbacks, remaining committed to achieving objectives. You demonstrate sound judgment, making decisions based on data, analysis, and a clear understanding of business objectives. You maintain open and transparent communication with all stakeholders, ensuring that processes and outcomes are clear. You prioritise the needs of both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that supplier relationships align with broader organisational goals. You actively seek new knowledge and keep up to date with industry trends, standards, and best practices. You can handle conflicts and disagreements with tact, diplomacy, and fairness, fostering positive relationships with suppliers and internal teams. You focus on achieving measurable outcomes, striving to meet and exceed targets while maintaining high standards of quality.

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.


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.