Contract & Vendor Management Specialist

About Us Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. And whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value, and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organization, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

Our function covers a diverse range of categories from Indirect, IT & Digital, Network Operations (Maintenance & Repair), Gas equipment and Services to large scale Construction and Network Equipment, with a clear mission: to enable a clean, fair, and affordable energy future through commercial, responsible and innovative supply chain leadership. 

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Contract and Vendor Management Specialist to join our team on a Full Time, Permanent basis!

Support the Supplier Performance Manager to understand, measure and analyze the performance of National Grid’s supply base, providing insights to senior leadership and driving continuous improvement, whilst alleviating risks and ensuring that maximum value and savings are realized through National Grid’s global supply chain.

National Grid is leading the charge towards a Net Zero future in the UK and NE of USA. We recognize that decarbonizing our electric and gas systems will require resolving many questions and seeking new partnerships, technologies and transformative investments.  Over the next 5 years, we will be investing over £60bn across our UK and US businesses – nearly double the investment over the past 5 years.  This is an exciting time for our industry that is creating significant opportunities for National Grid; this is not just a moment in time; it’s a game-changing era that will shape National Grid’s success for decades to come.

Given this backdrop, our supply chains are facing an unprecedented set of challenges and are at the forefront of our plans, placing National Grid Procurement at the center of our Net Zero goals. We have set out an ambitious transformation plan, focused on becoming a client of choice for our supply partners whilst ensuring outstanding outcomes for our Business Units (BUs).  Our strategy revolves around significant changes in three core areas:

• Partnering: We are forging closer ties with our supply chain, aligning ourselves more closely with each NG Group Business Unit (BU).
• Scale: We are leveraging the immense scale of our group to unlock even greater potential. By harnessing our collective strength, we can achieve remarkable things.
• Operational Transformation: We are revolutionizing the way we work as a team. Embracing new approaches and technologies, we are streamlining processes and making the day-to-day job simpler and more efficient.

What You’ll Do

This role will hold responsibility for monitoring and enhancing Contract Management within National Grid by supporting Contract Strategy & Performance to enhance Contract Management excellence across people, training, tools and process through:

• Monitoring of adherence to the National Grid Procurement Business Management System (BMS) Standards for Contract Management including the undertaking of Second Line Assurance activities across the group’s UK and US based contracts.
• Determining whether Business Units are meeting the minimum standards for Contract Management in their area and assessing for any gaps to be closed as part of a continuous improvement activity
• Championing Contract Management through delivery of education via a business outreach program which has been developed to address any gaps in contract storage, contract performance and contract assurance
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Contract Management activities in the UK & US.
• Lead the creation and maintenance and continuous improvement of Assurance review process & documentation which guides the second line assurance activity.
• Lead the activity of second line Assurance monitoring of Contract Management across National Grid’s UK & US
• Implement a regular review process with key stakeholders and manage any required changes through to delivery.
• Responsible for creation of any training materials required in relation to second line assurance outcomes.
• Preparation of reports and presentations to brief senior internal leadership stakeholders on Business Unit adherence to Procurement Contract Management Business Management System Standards
• Develop and maintain an effective supplier governance plan and reporting framework, ensuring appropriate controls and KPIs are applied to supplier performance, risks, costs, delivery, quality and relationships by category team.
• Support the continuous monitoring and driving of the supplier segmentation process based on external factors and business unit needs.
• Support the ‘Voice of the Supplier’ surveys, insight generation and use as the basis for appropriate action planning to continuously improve the perception of National Grid in the market with the goal of becoming a ‘Client of Choice’.
• Undertake research and analysis of key suppliers and the external marketplace, ensuring that information (e.g., supplier strategy and risk insight) is shared between Procurement and wider business units.
• Develop and maintain an effective supplier governance plan and reporting framework, ensuring appropriate controls and KPIs are applied to supplier performance, risks, costs, and relationships by category team.

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent experience
• Experience of broad, group sourcing-centric, supply chain management in complex, group enterprise environments
• The ability to build good relationships at all levels across the business, including liaising with and influencing senior management stakeholders.
• Experience conducting, developing, and managing second line assurance and/or audit processes
• Experience of managing procurement activities and delivering procurement savings
• Knowledge of Contract Management processes and best practice
• Analytical person with a strong financial background.

Your Rewards

Rewarding work and a collaborative, team-oriented culture is just the beginning. Review our digital benefit guide at ngbenefitslivebrighter.com for full details and descriptions

Additional Information

This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis.

We are also offering hybrid / flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need.

This role can be located: Waltham, MA

Waltham: $99,000- $116,000 a year

This role closes on 9/5/24. However, we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible, as applications will be actively reviewed and processed prior to the deadline

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.