REQUIREMENTS:

• Educated to University standard or equivalent – MCIPS desirable
• Minimum 2-3 yrs experience in sourcing across specific categories
• Demonstrates proven market knowledge of IT category, with skills to apply knowledge to drive maximum value for clients
• Proven capability of running large multi-million / complex global deals, including all aspects of the tender process
• Hands on approach for deal execution, manage deals end to end on their own with minimal oversight
• Highly organised and results driven, can lead a cross-functional team
• Client/stakeholder focus within the corporate environment with the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders
• Experienced negotiator and excellent communication skills
• Ability to structure complex deals and develop sourcing strategies
• Experience in understanding contracts and ability in contract drafting, with limited requirement for specialist legal support. Including experience in drafting and understanding the nuances of software license agreements, evaluation agreements and SaaS agreements and the relevance of different commercial models
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, often to tight deadlines, and deliver results
• Experience in working with market leading sourcing tools and systems
• Professional team player, motivated and highly flexible

PURPOSE:

The wider Sourcing team in the UK consists of sourcing professionals covering all indirect spend categories for our Clients. The team provides Clients with a range of sourcing services covering the end to end sourcing lifecycle, dependent on their needs, including market analysis, running market tenders, contract negotiation and contract drafting. Each member of the team works on multiple Client projects simultaneously, in both a client-facing and supplier-facing role, working on both regional sourcing projects as well as global initiatives. The primary purpose of the function is to deliver value-add sourcing services to Clients, in a structured, professional and consistent manner.
The scope of the role relates to the indirect spend of clients across the categories of software, hardware and infrastructure (data centres/network/telecommunications).
The Consultant needs to be a dynamic, highly client-focused individual with proven experience ideally across multiple categories, but minimally with deep expertise specifically in IT. The individual will have experience in working with the main suppliers both in the UK and globally of IT products and services including software, IT hardware and IT infrastructure services (including data centres, networks, telecommunications). The individual will be responsible for delivering contract negotiations, cradle to grave, and will need to have a global awareness of the different markets for the provision of services. The individual will need to have proven experience in working with the IT suppliers within the category, both in the UK and globally. The Consultant will need to be confident in engaging with senior stakeholders and be experienced in working as part of a cross-functional team to deliver a range of projects including complex large scale projects as well as smaller projects, as the work covers a mix of both.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main responsibilities will include:

• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders
• Leading assigned sourcing initiatives, which vary in terms of scope and scale from routine renewals to more strategic purchases, under own initiative with minimal oversight required
• Conducting market tenders and managing the evaluation across a cross-functional team to determine supplier selection
• Understanding business requirements and structuring deals to meet those requirements
• Negotiating deals to achieve optimal commercial terms
• Drafting contracts based on standard terms and conditions
• Leading cross-functional deal teams and liaising with senior stakeholders
• Building relationships with key suppliers
• Maintaining market awareness for assigned categories, leveraging experience to contribute to sourcing area plans and opportunity assessments
• Adhering to the Chain IQ corporate standards, including using the defined sourcing tools and processes in delivery of sourcing initiatives
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to deliver savings for Clients and drive benefits through smarter/efficient sourcing
• Mentoring/coaching less experienced team members and supporting them in more complex deals as required