The job description includes: "negotiating with existing suppliers in your language combination to get lower rates for preferred supplier status".
The views on volume discounts for large projects (your post of August 1) were pretty unanimous.

So what do folks feel on this initiative (lower your rates and you get more regular work)?
My feeling: such agencies seem to think that it's a buyer's market, i.e. they can pay what they want because translators are desperate for work. But my observation is that it is the other way round - if they are not willing to pay a decent rate, they don't deserve to find a translator, because there is more work out there than I can handle. So agencies really have to try hard and offer outstanding terms if they want me to work for them.

I made my position clear in my post on volume discount: offering lower rates doesn't make any sense to me.

Translation agencies are businesses, they're there to make money and it is part of their job to try and get the best rates they can from their suppliers. I don't have a problem with that. My job is to produce quality translations and, in exchange for them, be paid an amount which allows me to maintain my lifestyle. As long as freelancers are confident in their value as a service provider, they can and should be the ones who decide how much their services are worth. The problem is that a lot of freelancers lack confidence and fear competition, which puts them at a disadvantage when negociating with translation agencies.

I'm pleasantly surprised the company is offering paid hols and a pension scheme, bonuses, etc. but it's still cheaper for them to let some of their employees work from home: they don't have to supply a computer or a desk or anything else for that person on their premises. Still, if it suits both parties...

They actually explain what they mean by 'the best value translator'. It makes me shudder. As does the word 'urgent' whenever I see it.

I'm so glad I'm out of it (I'm translating a novel at the moment). I don't think I would survive in the current climate.

I agree with Victor. Reliable and competent translators usually find more work than they can handle. And we don't make widgets; we don't have tooling or setting-up costs for a given project. Therefore, it seems to me that volume discounts or anything that is like a volume discount is inappropriate in our profession.
Furthermore, I set my rates, not the client. Plenty of people find me too expensive, but plenty more believe that I provide good value for money, and keep coming back.