Junior Vendor Manager

• Based at Manchester Airport

• Permanent Role

• Flexible/Hybrid working for a better work/life balance.

• We are proud to be a diverse employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds.

Manchester Airport Group

At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UK owned airport operator, we serve over 60 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate. Sustainability is one of our core values, and it shapes everything we do. We're committed to protecting the environment and supporting our local communities. Our programmes include airport and airline decarbonisation, comprehensive education, skills and employment support and community engagement initiatives including volunteering opportunities. At MAG, we recognise creating a first-class journey for our customers starts by creating a first-class career journey for our colleagues and we are committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive.

You’ll also have access to some great benefits including:

• Flexible and generous company pension plan with various company contribution options (up to 8%) that you can change to suit your personal needs

• 24 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Free parking

• Subsidised public transport

• Huge range of company discounts

• 2 volunteering days per year

• Free Virtual GP service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The Role

You will play a vital role in supporting the Vendor Manager with the oversight and coordination of supplier engagement activities. You will contribute to vendor service reviews, assisting in performance evaluations and the resolution of any issues that may arise. A key part of your responsibilities will include analysing vendor performance against agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), ensuring that all contractual obligations are met.You will support the ongoing management of relationships with strategically important vendors, helping to maintain and update Account Plans where necessary. Your role will also involve assisting in the planning, organisation, and facilitation of formal reviews and assessments, including those that span complex or cross-functional areas of the business.Using performance data and KPIs, you will help monitor and challenge underperformance, identifying areas for improvement and contributing to the development of strategies to address compliance failures, which may include the application of contract terms. You will play a part in fostering effective communication and collaboration with suppliers, promoting a positive and mutually beneficial working environment.In addition, you will be responsible for identifying opportunities for continuous improvement through root cause analysis and the implementation of corrective actions. Collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders will be central to this role, ensuring alignment on goals and expectations. Finally, you will support the assessment of potential vendors, evaluating their capabilities, skillsets, and competitive positioning to ensure they meet organisational needs.

What will make you successful in the role?

You may bring prior experience working within a vendor management environment, with a solid understanding of how IT frameworks and procedures are applied in practice. Ideally, you’ll have a background in supply chain management and demonstrate strong knowledge of IT Service Management (ITSM) and ITIL principles, particularly in areas such as incident management, change management, supplier management, and request fulfilment.You’ll be familiar with interpreting and applying Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor and drive supplier performance. Collaboration is key in this role, so proven experience working across multiple teams and functions is essential.Your ability to build strong relationships and positively influence both internal and external stakeholders will be crucial to your success. You’ll be an excellent communicator, capable of delivering clear and concise messages both in writing and verbally, across all levels of the organisation.A focused and process-driven approach will help you thrive in a structured environment. Additionally, knowledge of technology infrastructure platforms and architecture, particularly within regulated, complex environments such as airports, stadia, or large retail spaces would be advantageous.

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

At MAG we believe in the importance of diversity & inclusion for all. We are committed to creating a workforce that is reflective of our society. As such we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We’re also committed to well-being with a focus on mental health and supporting colleagues from underrepresented groups through our Colleague Resource Groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to creating an environment where candidates and employees can perform at their optimum. Please let us know if we can provide you with any reasonable adjustments to aid your application or interview process. You can contact the team by emailing [email protected] Our Colleague Resource Groups include: Women’s Network, Embrace - Race & Ethnicity Group, Fly With Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mental Health, Parent & Carers, Disabilities including neurodiversity.