We are seeking a talented individual to join our Mercer Super Operations team at Mercer. This role will be based in Sydney or Melbourne. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

Head of Supplier Management

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, Mercer Super, this position is accountable for the management of key business supplier relationships. You will focus on supplier management for both related parties and external vendors ensuring adherence to regulatory obligations including APRA Standard CPS230.

The importance of strong supplier management across Mercer Super’s related and third-party service providers is instrumental to maintaining the reputation of Mercer Super as well as protecting and promoting the best financial interests of members.

To ensure success, the Head of Supplier Management will need to be a trusted adviser who builds collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders enabling delivery of operational and strategic outcomes.

We will count on you to:

• Deliver supplier management oversight, including adherence to regulatory obligations such as APRA Standard CPS230, to keep the business safe for our customers.
• Lead the quarterly and annual reviews of all outsourced service provider reporting, considering matters such as compliance attestations, due diligence reviews and service level performance against metrics set out in the Service Provider Agreements. Escalate any issues of concern to the Service Provider Oversight Committee, Trustee Office and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Other than when matters are covered by Board or Committees, conduct meetings with senior executives of service providers to discuss performance and strategy, and to actively question the drivers of any under-performance, as required, to ensure Mercer Super meets its strategic and operational goals.
• Develop outsourcing monitoring reports for the Service Provider Oversight Committee, as required.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with relevant key contacts of all of Mercer Super’s service providers under the Outsourcing Policies.
• Pivotal in ensuring our suppliers meet and exceed the high standards expected by our members, while supporting our strategic objectives.
• Be accountable, together with Mercer Super’s legal advisers, for the timely implementation of new, and the maintenance of existing, service agreements with Mercer Super’s service providers, which meet the outsourcing governance regulatory framework. This will involve participating in agreement negotiation and representing Mercer Super’s interests in those negotiations.
• Act as people leader, mentor and/or coach to the Supplier Management team and other colleagues within the Risk and Operations team, monitoring workflow and quality of output, to deliver a high standard of work through on-the-job training and development.
• Trusted adviser to internal and external stakeholders to ensure Mercer Super can deliver for our members in the moments that matter by ensuring all suppliers are aligned on our strategic objectives.
• Influence a strong risk culture across the Mercer Super business by role modelling risk aware decision making and oversight of supplier relationships.
• Never walk past a problem, or an opportunity to improve.

What you need to have:

• Tertiary qualifications in a business-related discipline
• 10+ years financial services industry experience, with a particular focus on supplier management
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and broad exposure to APRA reporting requirements

What makes you stand out:

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, both internally and externally, with a focus on collaboration, an ability to influence and achieve outcomes independent of reporting lines.
• Ability to drive change and influence all levels of management.
• Excellent people leadership with a bias to coaching and development, and an ability to set the vision for the team and broader business as it relates to supplier management
• Sound analytical skills and attention to detail
• Proactive professional with a passion for supplier performance management and a desire to excel in a collaborative environment.

Why join our team:

• Great time to join this global organisation in Growth Phase
• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.
• Hybrid working model

About us:

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit mercer.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X.

Marsh McLennan is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Marsh McLennan is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh McLennan colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.

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