Procurement Manager - greenfield opportunity!

Our client is a rapidly expanding Information Services business with 9 offices across 8 countries.  They have around 900 employees, have experienced double digit growth year on year and are regularly been ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in the world as well as one of the best companies to work for.

The company has strong Values and the culture is vibrant, innovative and collaborative.  If you enjoy challenging the status quo and coming up with new ideas, this is the right place for you!

Because of business growth, the senior leadership team are committed to having a dedicated Procurement function. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be the first ever Procurement Manager for the organisation, be a strategic partner to the business but be prepared to deliver yourself. The role requires someone who is comfortable balancing strategic and tactical procurement activity.  You will need to create order and process but handle ambiguity because the company is growing rapidly. 

In time, there may be the opportunity to hire additional headcount but, initially, you must be happy in a stand-alone role.

This varied role will provide you with the opportunity shape the Procurement function from creating a Procurement Policy, business partnering with the senior leadership team and key business partners in Finance, Legal, Operations and Commercial as well as running end to end sourcing processes across a range of spend.  Spend focuses on Indirects and includes HR & Professional Services, FM, Travel, IT and Utilities.

What will you be doing:
• Procurement Policy and  procurement system design
• Collaborate with stakeholders to improve existing systems, and establish efficient and intelligent processes at each stage of the vendor lifecycle, from pre-RFP to on-boarding
• Partner with stakeholders across the business to ensure optimal buying and vendor management behaviours
• Be seen as a go-to resource to drive efficient, value optimised and intelligently contracted procurement.
• Assist stakeholders with criteria scoping, design RFP and vendor evaluation processes. Coach stakeholders to negotiate and design optimally configured proposals
• Make and assess business cases to on-board, change and renew suppliers
• Ensure prospective vendors meet all necessary conditions to partner with the business and manage risk
• Ensure and negotiate optimal value on final contracts
• Vendor lifecycle and relationship management
• Create and execute initiatives to further relationships and develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers
• Cost analysis and value optimisation
• Track spend and partner with relevant teams (e.g. Finance, Commercial Team) to understand and maximise value and ROI  

Skills and experience required:
• 4+ years Procurement experience gained in a fast-paced, and preferably international, environment
• Experience of procuring indirect services, preferably for a Services business
• Familiarity procuring IT services (e.g. software licences)
• Tolerant of ambiguity as well as the ability to conceive and implement efficient new systems and ways of working
• Robust end to end technical procurement skills including contract fundamentals
• Solid analytical capabilities, commercial acumen and able to use Excel
• Results driven and a resourceful self-starter with strong prioritisation skills, taking a pragmatic approach to identifying the highest impact areas of focus, then designing and following well-considered plans to unlock value
• Resilience and determination and consistent attention to detail
• Passionate about getting a kick out of unlocking optimal value through contract configuration and intelligent negotiation.
• Working as a sparring partner across all functions, levels, and regions, with a track record in forging trusted and positive professional relationships. The ability to create, assess, and constructively challenge compelling business cases
• High emotional intelligence, gravitas to convey expertise along with the humility to accept feedback and others’ points of view in a highly collaborative environment
• Graduate calibre is essential