VodafoneThree - Senior Manager, Partner & Contract Management

Location: Newbury+ Hybrid
Salary: Excellent basic salary plus bonus and Vodafone benefits
Working hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday

Hybrid

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Who We Are

We're here to build a network the UK can count on - one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online - we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future's being built - today.

We're creating more than the UK's best network. We're helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress.

We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there's space for you here. We're building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves.

You'll join a team that genuinely cares - about each other, about our customers, and about the future we're building. From day one, you'll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.

Why VodafoneThree

Join us and you'll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last.

We're not just expanding connectivity; we're reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country.

You'll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you'll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone.

We move at pace, because what we're building matters - and we're learning as we go. We're proud of the progress we've made, but we're just getting started.

Join our UK Networks team, where we're continually building and enhancing our network, connecting millions of people and businesses across the country. Be part of the team that makes it all happen - simplifying, automating, and bringing better connectivity than ever before, with giga-fast speed, to our customers.

What you'll do

• Own and lead the Network business relationship with the relevant L2 organisation, acting as the primary interface for partner, contract and commercial governance matters.
• Lead, coach and prioritise a team of Partner Managers, setting clear objectives, managing performance and building capability across partner and contract management disciplines.
• Manage strategic partner relationships across the assigned Network domain, ensuring relationships are tiered, governed and aligned to business criticality, risk and value contribution.
• Ensure commercial agreements deliver their intended value, protecting Networks from commercial, operational, financial and compliance risk.
• Drive contract lifecycle management, including governance, change control, renewals, service credits, obligations tracking, performance management and issue resolution.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, delivery teams and L2 stakeholders to support sourcing activity, commercial decisions, contract handover and in-life management.
• Establish and maintain robust partner governance, including regular business reviews, risk reviews, partner performance reporting and escalation routes.
• Provide insight on partner landscape, market dynamics, spend, performance and risk to enable informed Network leadership decisions.
• Embed consistent partner management processes, tools, controls and MI across the team, supporting integration and the development of a single VodafoneThree operating model.

Who you are

• Strong experience in partner management, supplier relationship management, contract management, procurement, commercial governance or a related Networks environment.
• Proven people leadership capability, with experience setting direction, managing performance, coaching others and delivering outcomes through a team.
• Good understanding of telecoms Networks, managed services, supplier ecosystems and the operational dependencies that underpin reliable network delivery.
• Strong commercial acumen, including knowledge of contract obligations, change control, service credits, performance regimes, risk management and value realisation.
• Ability to build credibility with senior L2 stakeholders and partner leadership teams, influencing across organisational boundaries to secure decisions and resolve issues.
• Confident using data, MI and governance outputs to identify trends, manage risk, track partner performance and recommend corrective action.
• Experience working in complex, matrixed organisations with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and high levels of operational and commercial dependency.
• Demonstrable commitment to compliance, auditability, ethical supplier management and continuous improvement of processes, tools and controls.

Worried that you don't meet all the desired criteria exactly?
We know that everyone is unique, with multiple aspects to their identity and different experiences behind them. We are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in.

What we offer

We care about our people's success by offering great pay, bonuses, up to 28 days off plus bank holidays, and paid time for charity work. You can personalise our benefits for you and your family, like discounts, vouchers, a pension plan and loads more. We help with your career through our amazing learning tools and top-notch parental leave policies.

Need to Know

We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please refer to the Accessibility section of our Careers website ( ) for guidance.

We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements.

During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are-your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we're looking for authenticity and can't wait to get to know the real you.