Supplier Engagement Manager

About us

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

At National Grid, we aim to create an environment where everyone is welcomed for who they are and where our differences are celebrated. We utilize the insights of our employees that come from all different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs to better serve our customers and communities.

About the Role

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it’s so much more than that. National Grid provides the environment for our teams to thrive and make a real impact. As we drive momentum in the energy transition for all, we are committed to ensuring that every employee feels empowered and engaged. So, join us as a Supplier Engagement Manager, and find your superpower.

Reporting to the Head of Supplier Engagement & Governance, the Supplier Engagement Manager will play a pivotal role in positioning National Grid as a customer of choice for our suppliers. This role is key to strengthening and maximising critical supplier relationships to better support our strategic objectives. They will help shape and embed a consistent approach to ongoing engagements, lead relationships with our most strategic suppliers at C-Suite level and collaborate closely with category managers and Business Unit leads. Together, they will drive meaningful engagement, unlock innovation, and deliver initiatives that enhance National Grid’s standing as a preferred client—ultimately ensuring a resilient and future-ready supply chain for the next five to ten years.

What You'll Do

· Deliver National Grid’s Supplier Relationship Management strategy, partnering with executive sponsors, category teams, and Business Unit leads.

· Lead engagement with strategic suppliers, coordinating forums, workshops, and initiatives that drive value, innovation, and long-term collaboration.

· Support the development of supplier strategies by integrating cross-functional input (e.g., Sustainability, Risk) and aligning plans to business priorities.

· Help resolve conflicting priorities across categories and Business Units, providing recommendations and escalating where needed.

· Maintain oversight of our supplier landscape and work with Market Supplier Development to identify and access new markets.

· Contribute to supplier segmentation, governance, performance management, and the continuous evolution of our supplier management approach.

· Partner with global and regional teams to support commercial strategies, contract risk assessment, and mitigation planning.

What You'll Need

· Outstanding stakeholder and supplier management skills, with the confidence and credibility to influence senior leaders—both within National Grid and across our strategic supplier network.

· Strong commercial acumen, including knowledge of commercial models and best-in-class supplier engagement techniques that drive continuous improvement and long-term value.

· Proven negotiation expertise, backed by solid understanding of contract law and experience delivering successful procurement / commercial outcomes.

· Sharp analytical capability, able to interpret KPIs and contract data, identify commercial risks, and support category teams in managing supplier performance.

· Comfort working in ambiguity, with the ability to make sound decisions and offer clear recommendations even when information is incomplete.

· Strong program management skills, able to coordinate complex workstreams with multiple stakeholders and consistently drive results.

More Information

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