Head of central Functions - Spain & Portugal

at  Allianz Partners

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Allianz Group is one of the most trusted insurance and asset management companies in the world. Caring for our employees, their ambitions, dreams and challenges, is what makes us a unique employer. Together we can build an environment where everyone feels empowered and has the confidence to explore, to grow and to shape a better future for our customers and the world around us.
We at Allianz believe in a diverse and inclusive workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to bring your whole self to work, no matter where you are from, what you look like, who you love or what you believe in.
We therefore welcome applications regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, age, gender, nationality, religion, disability or sexual orientation.
Join us. Let’s care for tomorrow.
Job Level:
Professional
Location:
Lisbon, PT, 1700-073
Area of Expertise:
Real Estate
Unit:
Allianz Partners
Employing Entity:
AZWP Services Portugal. Lda.
Job Type:
Full-Time
Remote Job:
Hybrid working
Employment Type:
Permanent
ID:
49814
Position Cluster:
Non-Executiv

ROLE SUMMARY:

The Head of Central Functions is within our Operations division and reports to Global/Regional Head of Central Functions and to Operation Country Manager. This role is responsible for procurement, purchasing & payment, real state & facility management, protection & resilience, corporate travel management, Payment invoice management & settlement within Allianz Partners (AzP).

Developing purchasing policies, strategic negotiation and procedures for the organization. In nutshell:

• Oversee the purchasing function of the organization.
• Direct the end-to-end process of handling invoices
• Manage the local and international real estate transactions as well as the international tenders for comprehensive real estate and facility services
• Create, develop and optimize the real estate portfolio strategies
• Build and Run the Protection & Resilience framework, Business Continuity Management, Crisis Management, Global Incident Management, IT Service Continuity Management, Outsourcing, Protective Security Management
• Own corporate travel policy, activities (including the negotiation with the vendors) globally

This role needs to collaborate with other departments, such as finance, core operations, and LOBs. By integrating procurement processes with other business functions, we can achieve better alignment, exploit further synergies of scale, and enhance overall organizational performance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Real estate and facility management: Oversee AzP’s real estate activities. This includes managing property acquisitions, leases, sales, etc. as well as developing and implementing real estate strategies aligned with the corporate goals. Negotiate contracts, analyze market trends, and collaborate with other departments to ensure that the company’s real estate portfolio meets its operational needs and financial objectives.
• Travel policy, terms and risk management: Own the end to end travel policy, the online booking platform, cost saving strategies, service reliability, with business needs, sustainability, health, safety, wellbeing and compliance at the core of the decision making process. Ensure the platform provides comprehensive information, competitive pricing, and personalized options to meet employees’ specific needs.
• Expense Management Solutions: Offer integrated expense management solutions to simplify the reimbursement process for travellers. Integrate travel expenses into a centralized system, automate expense reporting, and provide data analytics to help employees optimize their travel spending.
• Provider Invoice Management: Ensure accurate and timely processing of invoices, adherence to regulatory requirements and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Market Research and Analysis: Stay informed about market trends, demographics, and economic indicators that impact the core categories spend. Conduct thorough market research to identify emerging opportunities and target markets / new suppliers.
• Financial & Budget Management: Proactively design and implement protection measures to reduce the financial impact of potential threats and avoid or minimize damages, losses, and downtime, and reputational damages.
• Business Continuity Planning: Develop and update business continuity plans to ensure the organization is prepared for potential disruptions. This includes establishing alternative processes, backup systems, emergency response procedures, and communication protocols, all of which help minimize operational interruptions and maintain customer service levels. The protection and resilience measures must mitigate risks and minimize the impact of potential threats (i.e., physical security in some locations such as Mexico). By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, businesses can reduce the likelihood of adverse events such as cyber-attacks, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, or operational failures.
• Process Improvement: Leverage technology and automation tools to streamline procurement processes. Implement e-procurement systems for requisitioning, purchase orders, and invoice management. Automation can help reduce manual errors, improve cycle times, and enhance overall efficiency.
• Emphasize Ethical and Transparent Practices: Maintain high ethical standards in all business dealings. Build trust with vendors and stakeholders by practicing transparency, providing accurate information, and adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
• Sustainable Procurement: Embrace sustainable procurement practices by considering environmental and social factors when selecting suppliers. Implement green procurement strategies, promote ethical sourcing, and prioritize suppliers with strong sustainability practices.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to the regulations, requirements and standards related to (i.e., protection and resilience, travel, procurement, health, and safety) as we to avoid penalties, legal issues, and reputational damage. Ensure compliance and maintaining a favorable standing within the industry.
• Risk Management: Develop a robust risk management strategy to mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain. Identify potential risks, such as supplier bankruptcy or geopolitical events, and establish contingency plans to minimize their impact on procurement operations. Vendor integrity Screening
• Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the procurement function. Encourage feedback from stakeholders, conduct regular performance reviews, and implement process improvement initiatives based on lessons learned.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Utilize data analytics to gain insights into procurement performance/travel spending, identify areas for improvement (i.e., cost saving for travel), and make informed decisions. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as cost savings, supplier performance, and inventory turnover to measure progress and drive continuous improvement.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance: Strengthen relationships with diverse group of suppliers to get favorable terms, improved pricing and expand business opportunity. Regularly assess suppliers’ performance, negotiate contracts, and implement effective communication channels.
• Strategic Sourcing: Develop a strategic sourcing plan to identify the best suppliers, negotiate favorable contracts, and streamline the procurement process. Consider factors such as quality, cost, delivery time, and supplier reliability when making sourcing decisions.
• Team Leadership & governance: Build and lead a high-performing team of operations professionals and foster a culture of innovation and excellence that improves AES (Allianz Engagement Survey) scores. Be an ambassador of AzP and role model our values while creating a high-performance culture and teams.