Head of Supplier Relationship Management (G6)

Location: London / hyrbid (with flexibility for Manchester-based candidates)
Clearance: Active or recently lapsed SC required
Contract: Initial 6 months
Daily Rate: £650 - £750 inside ir35

The Opportunity

We're hiring a senior strategic leader to shape and manage relationships with some of the most important technology suppliers supporting the UK public sector.

This is a high-impact role at the centre of government, working across digital, commercial, and policy teams to ensure the UK gets maximum value from its technology partnerships.

You will operate in a fast-paced, highly visible environment, engaging with senior stakeholders-including ministers-and influencing how government works with both global technology providers and emerging digital businesses.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of supplier strategy across a complex digital landscape
• Build and manage senior relationships with key technology suppliers (including global firms and high-growth companies)
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, including leadership teams and ministerial offices
• Shape how government engages with:
  • Major technology providers (e.g. cloud, enterprise platforms)
  • SMEs and scale-ups in the digital ecosystem
• Support major commercial initiatives and strategic partnerships, ensuring long-term value
• Translate complex commercial and technical topics into clear, impactful briefings
• Operate across multiple priorities, responding to a fast-moving and evolving environment

What We're Looking For Essential Experience

• Proven experience managing strategic supplier or partnership relationships
• Track record of working with senior stakeholders (Director/C-suite level or equivalent)
• Experience operating in complex, fast-paced environments
• Ability to translate complex information into clear insights and recommendations
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of supplier dynamics

Highly Desirable

• Experience working with:
  • Major technology providers (e.g. AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, ServiceNow)
  • Digital, data, or cloud-based services
• Exposure to both private and public sector environments
• Understanding of SME/scale-up ecosystems or innovation markets
• Degree-level education (or equivalent); MBA advantageous

Key Attributes

We're looking for individuals who are:

• Strategic thinkers who can see the bigger picture
• Politically aware and able to navigate complex stakeholder environments
• Relationship-focused, with strong emotional intelligence
• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
• Confident, credible, and able to influence at senior levels
• Able to balance pace, pressure, and competing priorities