Vendor & Contract Manager

At Mencap, technology plays a vital role in enabling the organisation to deliver its mission and provide high-quality services and support. To do this effectively, we rely on a wide range of external technology partners who provide critical systems, cloud services, infrastructure, connectivity, software, cybersecurity services and specialist expertise .

We're looking for a Vendor & Contract Manager to join our Digital, Data and Technology ( DDaT ) team. Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Governance , this is a strategic, high-impact role focused on ensuring that Mencap's technology suppliers deliver value, performance and resilience across our most business-critical services.

As the commercial and relationship lead for Mencap's key technology vendors, you'll be responsible for managing contracts and supplier governance across our Tier 1 technology estate. You'll build strong partnerships with suppliers, drive accountability for contractual performance, and help ensure our technology investments support organisational priorities while delivering value for money.

Working closely with colleagues across DDaT , Procurement, Finance, Legal, Information Security and Enterprise Governance, you'll lead technology procurement and contract activity throughout the entire supplier lifecycle, from market engagement and contract negotiation through to renewal, re-procurement and exit planning. You'll also play an important role in identifying opportunities to optimise costs, reduce supplier risk and strengthen governance, including across emerging technology and AI services.

This role sits within the Enterprise Governance function and provides a key link between technology, commercial management and organisational risk. While you will own supplier relationships and technology contracts, responsibility for day-to-day service delivery, technical assurance and product ownership remains with the relevant service and technology teams. This gives you the opportunity to focus on strategic supplier management, commercial value and governance while working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across Mencap.

If you enjoy building trusted supplier relationships, negotiating commercial outcomes and ensuring technology partners help organisations succeed, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact at Mencap.

• Significant experience in IT contract management, technology procurement, vendor management or strategic supplier relationship management.
• Experience managing business-critical suppliers across enterprise SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, connectivity, telecommunications, security, licensing or professional services.
• Demonstrable experience managing the complete contract lifecycle, including sourcing, negotiation, mobilisation, performance, variation, renewal, dispute and exit.
• Strong commercial understanding of technology contracts, licensing, SLAs, KPIs, service credits, liabilities, assurance obligations and termination provisions.
• Experience leading procurement activity within organisational policies and guardrails, including evaluation and due-diligence processes.
• Ability to work effectively with Legal, recognising that Legal retains authority over contractual interpretation, terms and signature.
• Experience working with Finance and budget holders on affordability, commitments, forecasting, value for money and cost optimisation.
• Experience establishing contract-management plans and strategic supplier-governance arrangements.
• Ability to distinguish contract ownership, service ownership, delivery coordination and technical assurance.
• Experience addressing poor performance and using contractual and relationship-management mechanisms proportionately.
• Understa…