Supplier Management Coordinator

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

British Council Pay Band 7

Department: Digital and Technology

Location: London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and employees with existing contract in Manchester

Contract: Indefinite Contract (permanent role)
Apply by: Sunday, 30th Nov11:59 PM UK time 
Interview window: TBD

The starting salary for this role starts at £30,839 per annum, this is negotiable based on skills, and expertise. In addition, there will be an annual LMA of £3,300 for London based candidates.

Benefits:

• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
• 3 days volunteering leave
• Career average defined benefit pension scheme

This role is open to applicants who already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Relocation and visa sponsorship are not available. The British Council supports flexible working, including hybrid arrangements, subject to line manager approval and operational requirements.

Role Context

The role provides management support and coordination to Supplier Managers in the UK and India, ensuring timely and accurate completion of all activities related to day-to-day contract management. It requires maintaining a strong understanding of the supplier portfolio, monitoring billing and service performance, identifying irregularities, and supporting supplier management reviews, particularly those focused on billing.

The Digital and Technology team partners with the wider British Council to drive a digitally enabled, customer-centric culture by empowering people with the skills and confidence needed to navigate digital challenges. Within this function, the Operations unit ensures secure and high-performing enterprise platforms and applications, manages connectivity and the modern workplace environment, oversees supplier partnerships, and transitions new products and services into the live environment using ITIL-based processes.

Main responsibilities

The role is responsible for managing internal and external stakeholder relationships, ensuring productive engagement with contract sponsors, service users, procurement, finance teams, and suppliers to secure value for money and effective service delivery. It requires strong emotional maturity and professional presence to engage a wide range of stakeholders. Key commercial responsibilities include raising purchase orders, processing invoices promptly, supporting budget forecasting, ensuring accurate vendor setup, and verifying that payments align with contractual commitments, including monitoring and collecting service credits. The role also identifies opportunities for service improvements, cost efficiencies, and enhanced service delivery, and collates these improvements for communication across relevant audiences.

In addition, the role provides comprehensive operational support to the Supplier Management Team. This includes acting as the first point of contact for colleagues and suppliers on FOI queries, contract details, invoicing, and purchase orders. The role triages and tracks incoming requests to ensure efficiency, coordinates supplier review meetings, maintains action logs, and supports risk management activities. Overall, the position ensures smooth team operations and contributes to the continuous improvement of supplier management practices across the British Council.

Role Specific Skills

• Planning and Organisational skills –able to work under pressure and prioritise
• Work effectively at all levels of the organisation
• Understand the Global context in which we work
• Good Digital and technical skills and good knowledge of Excel / Word / Teams
• Excellent attention to detail

Qualifications

Minimum/essential

• Educated to A level standard

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• Proven track record of office administration in busy and complex environments, prioritising multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Experience of working effectively with individuals at all levels (especially senior managers), both internally and externally.
• Holding people to account – in eliciting responses
• Experience of working with SAP

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. (C1 Level)

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email