Supplier Risk Manager

Job Overview

The Clifford Chance Procurement department seeks to 'position Procurement at the heart of operational excellence'; providing commercial and strategic advice and support to our stakeholders regarding pre- and post-contract management processes, supporting the implementation of our supplier management and sustainable procurement programmes, and providing commercial training to empower and equip our stakeholders and ensure compliance with our procurement policies and procedures.   

As a member of the wider Procurement team, the Supplier Risk Manager is expected to provide robust management and tracking of the risk control status for all key suppliers and, working with key stakeholders, ensure the development of supplier onboarding and in-life cycle risk management plans.

This role may require infrequent travel to other Clifford Chance global offices, but it is expected that most work will be undertaken within Newcastle.

Clifford Chance won the Outstanding Diversity and Inclusion Practices in Procurement Teams award at the CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2020.  Please refer to the 'News' section of our Supplier Management website for more detail and other initiatives we have been involved in.

Who you will work with

• Client and Business Development teams to provide responses to client queries and audits.


• Information Security, Data Privacy & Compliance & Legal Teams to address supplier risks and issues and assist supplier assurance activities.


• Global stakeholders (internal) including senior levels.


• Support members of the Procurement team.


• External Stakeholders, including suppliers.

What you will be responsible for

You will be responsible for delivery and implementation of the firm's supplier risk management approach, including the training and upskill of Contract Managers and Owners to support compliance with our procurement policies and procedures, and collaboration with key stakeholder groups to ensure appropriate implementation of our SRM Framework and oversight and management of supplier risk across multiple risk domains (regulatory, operational, financial, contractual, etc.)   

What you will do

• To act as an expert and advisor across all areas of supplier relationship management and supplier related risk.


• To develop and help other members of the Procurement department, as required.


• To influence our supplier risk management approach and strategy; driving the delivery of our responsible business commitments and supplier standards. 


• To provide best practice guidance and support to all global offices to enable the effective oversight and management of key suppliers.


• To review the tiering level of our suppliers on an annual basis to ensure an appropriate level of oversight and management is applied, including on-going assurance activities for high-risk suppliers.


• To identify and maintain an inventory of our critical and important supplier relationships.


• To ensure appropriate controls are in place to support compliance with the minimum standards outlined in the Supplier Management Framework, Procurement, Finance and Professional Standards & Risk Management policies, including on-going monitoring and reporting.


• To maintain and manage our Responsible Supply Chain Team Standard Operating Procedures documents, including any updates/ amendments, as appropriate.


• To review and maintain our suite of tools, templates and guidance and ensure they're reviewed, as a minimum, on an annual basis working with the Sustainable Procurement Manager and Head of Responsible Supply Chain.


• To work with the Procurement Operations Team to report non-compliance with SRM Framework minimum standards and processes, including working with Contract Managers, Suppliers and Sourcing Team to reduce percentage of non-compliance over time.


• To leverage data analytics to identify opportunities to drive greater value -consider reporting and data to drive the right behaviours, including supplier risk management and sustainability reporting.


• To monitor adherence of key suppliers to our Supplier Code of Conduct and Supplier Standards, including, but not limited to, the oversight and management of our annual supplier code declaration exercise, working closely with the Sustainable Procurement Manager.


• To manage and resolve any ad-hoc user queries on key supplier management topics, e.g., service improvement planning, exit management, etc.


• To provide visibility of the financial stability of our key suppliers, sharing financial reporting information with Sourcing Managers, as appropriate, to inform decision making and next steps.


• To provide training and upskill as part of the SRM Learning Programme to contract managers and owners, including tailored guidance for each region / office to ensure the commitments we've made (client, legal, regulatory, and voluntary) are addressed and reported on.


• To stay abreast of external market best practice regarding supplier risk management and assurance, maintaining and sharing thought leadership.


• To lead initiatives to ensure growing compliance and adherence to the firm's global procurement policies.

Qualifications

Your career experience so far

Qualifications:

 MCIPS or a recognised procurement qualification is desirable.

Experience:

• Demonstrable working knowledge in supplier risk and contract management, supplier due diligence and assurance activities and supplier management programme management, including reporting and measurement from a similar or comparable organisation.


• Good working knowledge and understanding of the principles of risk management, control, and assurance, including knowledge experience of implementing supplier risk management programmes. 


• Experience of collaborating with different regions to support oversight and assurance activities, including supplier performance and risk management.


• Experience of managing and influencing challenging stakeholders and suppliers.


• Experience of presenting to senior leadership teams and project committees to support approvals and programme implementation and rollout.

Knowledge:

• A strong understanding of procurement best practice, process and tools and its application to a comparable organisation.


• A good understanding of the principles of risk management, control, and assurance, including, but not limited to, data privacy, information security, financial risk management, AB&C, modern slavery, business continuity, etc.


• A good understanding of national and international regulation, UN Guiding Principles, OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct, etc., and the implementation of them within a global supply chain.

Skills:

• Flexible and effective written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.


• Strong multitasking, problem solving and organisational skills.


• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (incl. Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Company Description

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Hybrid Working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

Additional Information

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

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