Supplier Relationship Manager

Culina Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides logistics, warehousing, distribution, and other services for the food and drink industry in United Kingdom and Ireland. It provides chilled, ambient, contract packaging, and bonded logistics services, as well as value-added services, such as online visibility and systems integration, pallet management, and supply chain management.

The Supplier Relationship Manager will be responsible for managing and enhancing value, risk, and performance across a diverse internal and external stakeholder network — including suppliers, operational users, support functions, and Procurement. The role requires a strong ability to balance commercial insight with relationship excellence, driving continuous improvement and innovation.

This Supplier Relationship Manager – Operations role will focus initially on managing strategic supplier relationships across key operational categories, Corporate Services, Utilities, FM, Property & Labour. Categories are subject to change depending on business needs. The successful candidate will be responsible for the performance and risk management of key suppliers, as well as the identification and delivery of value-add opportunities to enhance Culina Group's financial performance, business resilience, and the quality of goods and services received.

As part an evolving Procurement function, the role requires a flexible, proactive, and resilient individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment with competing demands. The position offers a unique opportunity to drive value, ensure supply continuity, and support both sustainability and cost-efficiency initiatives across the Group.

Key Duties of a Supplier Relationship Manager:

• Engage, Develop and manage supplier relationships across assigned categories.
• Collaborate with sourcing team to support strategies and contract negotiations.
• Develop, monitor, & review supplier performance and compliance with SLAs and KPIs.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to align procurement activities with operational needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to position Culina as a best-practice case study.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, innovation, and risk mitigation.
• Support sustainability objectives through responsible sourcing practices.
• Assess markets and suppliers for potential risks and implement mitigation strategies.

• Proven experience in procurement or supplier relationship management, ideally within logistics, FM, Property & Labour supply chains.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, fuel procurement, and fleet/MHE operations.
• Ability to identify and implement value-added commercial solutions in a fast-paced, multi-site organisation.
• Skilled in managing multiple, and sometimes conflicting, stakeholders effectively and proactively.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with a focus on driving value.
• Expertise in negotiating with suppliers and stakeholders to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Experience in creating market-leading strategic category plans, considering performance, risk, and value.
• Confident in drafting and executing contracts, leveraging legal support when required.
• Proactive in pipeline creation and management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence decisions at all levels.
• Comfortable challenging procurement, business, and supplier practices, including specifications for goods and services.
• Commercial mindset with a continuous focus on identifying opportunities to add value.
• Proficiency in procurement systems and data analysis tools.
• Experience with SAP or other ERP systems.
• CIPS qualification or working towards it.

As part of our drive to make Culina Group a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.

Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.

Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:

• Annual Leave – Competitive holiday entitlement of 25 days plus the normal 8 bank holidays
• Company Bonus  – We do our best work to succeed together. When we achieve our goals you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme 
• Private Medical Cover – This gives you peace of mind, you have choice, flexibility and speed of access to the most clinically appropriate care via Bupa
• Pension scheme – we want colleagues to enjoy a comfortable retirement so we offer a great contribution of 5% employee and 8% employer
• Life Assurance -  x4 your annual salary 
• Wellness – Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year
• Eye Care Vouchers – We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses
• Reward & Recognition – We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the month and year, special recognition and long service awards.
• Everyday discounts - via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings

If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam