Strategic Supplier & Commercial Manager

Company Description/ Business Unit

Location:

Basingstoke (hybrid working 3 office days per week)

Employment Type:

Permanent, full time Additional Benefits:
Annual Bonus, Cash-Car Allowance & Private Medical Insurance Think the AA is just about roadside assistance? Think again.

For over a century, we've been evolving and adapting. Today, as the nation's leading motoring organisation, we offer a wide range of products and services to millions of customers. From roadside assistance to home and motor insurance, and the latest driving technologies, we have it all. As we continue to expand, diversify, and modernise, joining us as a Supplier & Commercial Manager means you'll play a crucial role in our success and be part of this exciting motoring journey.

Our Chief Operating Office (COO) are the backbone of The AA, providing both stability and structure to support growth and innovation. We are the drivers of change.#LI-Hybrid This is the jobAs our Strategic Supplier & Commercial Manager, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the AA gets the best possible value from its strategic supplier relationships. Working within our Procurement function, you’ll combine commercial thinking, supplier relationship management and strong business partnering to improve performance, unlock value and effectively manage commercial and supplier risk.

This is an influential role where you’ll work closely with senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers, taking ownership of complex commercial relationships and helping shape how we manage third party spend. You’ll bring external market insight, challenge established thinking and identify opportunities to improve cost, service, innovation and commercial outcomes across the AA.What will I be doing?

Own and develop relationships with strategic suppliers, leading regular business reviews and ensuring performance, risks, opportunities and improvement actions are effectively managed.

Lead and support commercial activity across contract renewals, negotiations, amendments and supplier exits, protecting service continuity while delivering strong commercial outcomes.

Identify and deliver opportunities for cost optimisation, efficiencies, revenue generation and wider value creation through existing and prospective supplier relationships.

Partner with senior stakeholders to understand business priorities, shape sourcing and supplier strategies, and provide commercial insight that constructively challenges decision making.

Monitor supplier performance through meaningful MI, KPIs and market intelligence, intervening where required and driving improvement and innovation with suppliers and internal teams.

Support effective supplier governance and risk management, ensuring procurement policies, regulatory requirements and third-party governance obligations are consistently met.

What do I need?

Strong commercial procurement expertise, with a solid understanding of strategic supplier management, sourcing, contracting and the wider procurement lifecycle.

A track record of managing complex supplier relationships and using commercial levers, performance data and effective SRM practices to deliver tangible business value.

Strong commercial negotiation capability, with the confidence to navigate complex contractual discussions, resolve challenges and constructively challenge suppliers and stakeholders.

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and translate commercial or market insight into clear recommendations.

A strong understanding of supplier governance and risk management, ideally gained within a regulated or similarly complex organisation.

Commercial and analytical acumen, with the ability to interpret spend and financial information,…