Job Title: Senior Category Buyer - (phone number removed)
The Opportunity
This role leads the strategic sourcing, development, and ongoing optimisation of a diverse portfolio of Professional Services categories, supporting BAU and Reimagine transformation.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
Category Strategy
* Lead the development and delivery of Strategic Category Plans (SCPs), ensuring creation, alignment, and compliance.
* Conduct detailed spend analytics, demand modelling, and market intelligence assessments.
* Translate business needs into actionable category strategies.
* Define long‑term category roadmaps including supplier segmentation and maturity progression.
* Identify, assess, and rationalise the supplier base.
* Lead cross‑functional category governance, including Consultancy Category Boards.
* Promote early stakeholder engagement and strategic procurement planning.
* Identify and drive continuous improvements in category management maturity.
Sourcing
* Lead end‑to‑end sourcing events for all Professional Services categories.
* Apply Total Cost of Ownership principles and value‑based procurement.
* Lead complex negotiations including contractual, commercial, and delivery‑based elements.
* Develop bespoke sourcing strategies for complex or urgent business demands.
* Partner with Legal (OGC) for commercial terms, IP, and risk considerations.
* Coach and support junior buyers on procurement excellence.
* Ensure high‑quality sourcing documentation (eGSP, SBR, SCP alignment, SAP Ariba).
* Align with global and regional buying teams.
Contract Management & Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
* Lead the end‑to‑end Contract Management lifecycle across Professional Services.
* Develop performance frameworks including KPIs, SLAs, and governance structures.
* Conduct regular SRM reviews with senior supplier executives.
* Identify in‑contract value including rate optimisation and scope refinement.
* Own supplier‑related risk management activities.Ensure clear contractual deliverables and milestone tracking.
* Drive supplier innovation, digitalisation, and productivity improvements.
* Ensure commercial governance and auditing compliance.
Stakeholder Leadership & Business Partnering
* Build strong, trusting, and influential relationships with stakeholders.
* Act as a commercial advisor to senior leadership.
* Support business case development with commercial insights.
* Challenge and manage demand to ensure cost efficiency.
* Partner with Transformation Leads, Finance, and more.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential:
* Self‑motivated, uses initiative and problem solver – focused on delivering results, with a proven track record of demonstrating logic and analytical thinking.
* Able to deliver quality and consistency in a complex, highly demanding environment.
* Professionally qualified with a proven track record in a purchasing environment.
* Strong leadership and influencing skills (experience in managing senior stakeholders is vital).
* Excellent stakeholder management and relationship management skills and experience.
* An excellent negotiator with a proven track record of successful commercial negotiations.
* Able to manage and execute complex projects on time and in budget.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to converse at all levels of the organisation and with external suppliers/customers.
* Valid Driving license required.
Desirable:
* Previous experience as a Buyer in an Indirect Procurement function.
* Shared Service/Business Process Outsourcing background desirable but not mandatory.
* Ability to be highly organised and continually focus on attention to detail.
* A commercial understanding of terms and conditions and ability to negotiate them (with the support of OGC).
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