Job Description
We are hiring for a Procurement Specialist.
What is the role?
The Procurement Specialist works closely with Category Managers and Head of Procurement to deliver analytical insights, manage sourcing events and support targeted supplier management and contract management activities. This role plays a key part in driving procurement performance and strong relationships with the business and suppliers.
What will you be doing?
* Analyse spend and procurement performance metrics to identify opportunities
* Maintains cost modelling, relevant market indices & insights, and spend analytics data sets
* Identifies and supports improvement initiatives across categories and spend
* Manages the gathering and publishing of key market insights and benchmarks
* Lead mid-value sourcing projects and RFx processes independently under Category Manager guidance
* Follows up with suppliers / sub-contractors where quotes have been requested, and support responses to suppliers / sub-contractors as agreed with buyers
* Conducts market analysis to develop the teams understanding of potential suppliers / sub-contractors for a given product / service being requested
* Supports the development of templates for quote responses to increase efficiency of quote analysis
* Creates regular and ad-hoc service performance reports for the team and general analytics on purchasing trends / performance across the group
* Undertakes any related administrative duties to ensure effective operations of the team
* Assist in developing and maintaining category templates and process documentation
What are we looking for?
Skill required
* Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
* Knowledge of procurement and sourcing principles and strategies
* Detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving ability
* Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
* Strong collaboration and communication skills
* Experience using Source to Pay and procurement analytics tools
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, BI)
Competencies
* Degree in Business, Procurement, or related field
* 3+ years experience in procurement
* Proven experience of working with large data sets and extracting procurement insights
* Demonstrable experience in data analysis and report writing (quantitative and qualitative)
* Strong command of analytical methodologies
Who are we?
Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 22,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.
Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.
Why work at Howden?
We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
What do we offer in return?
A career that you define.
Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.
And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.
Diversity and Inclusion
At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
* Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
* We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
* We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond
We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.
Our sustainability promise
We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.