Outsourced Services Lead

Oxford University Press; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading publishing company is seeking two Outsourced Services Leads to manage supplier relationships and contracting processes. This role involves selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with company policies. The ideal candidates will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience in publishing. The position offers a hybrid work environment with benefits including 25 days of holiday and pension contributions.

Benefits

25 days’ holiday rising with service

Bank holidays

Pension contributions up to 12%

Flexibility in working patterns

Active employee networks and societies

Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills required.
• Experience with ERP systems is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe necessary.

Responsibilities

• Select suppliers for content creation and manage engagement activities.
• Oversee supplier performance and resolve issues.
• Accurately record outsourcing activities to maintain visibility of spend.

Skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Education

Experience in publishing or similar industry

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

Adobe software

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

The Outsourced Services team sits within publishing and content operations and is responsible for sourcing and contracting all third-party content creation and delivery services across ELT and Publishing & Content Operations. We are recruiting two Outsourced Services Leads to ensure all contracting activities align with OUP’s policies and governance guidelines, including onboarding. The role involves all aspects of contracting, leading price negotiations, seeking budget approvals, and addressing supplier performance issues. You will manage supplier relationships from initial engagement through to final delivery and invoicing.

This is a busy and varied role working across ELT and Publishing & Content Operations to meet external resourcing needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Select suitable suppliers for high-quality, cost-effective content creation and delivery services based on experience and task requirements.
• Manage all supplier engagement activities, including briefing, price negotiation, contract creation and approval, budget confirmation, and payment processing, in line with compliance and onboarding policies.
• Collaborate with functional leads to develop sourcing strategies and timelines, ensuring urgent requests are met while minimizing disruptions.
• Oversee outsourcing activities, record supplier performance issues, and work with suppliers to resolve them, escalating persistent issues to the Outsourced Services Manager.
• Work with teams across ELT and Publishing & Content Operations to clearly define outsourcing requirements, ensure understanding by suppliers, and adhere to budgets and schedules. Lead and participate in meetings to ensure project requirements are understood and procurement processes are followed.
• Accurately record outsourcing activities in internal systems to maintain visibility of spend and budgets. Contribute to process improvements for efficiency.
• Manage a high volume of purchase orders and supplier agreements with precision, engaging with multiple systems and processes.
• Maintain continuous improvement practices, monitor outcomes, communicate changes to stakeholders, and keep all parties informed.

Our hybrid working policy requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.

About You

To succeed, you should have:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accurate record-keeping.
• Resourcefulness and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to multitask and adapt quickly to change.
• A proactive attitude focused on action and delivery.
• Knowledge of the publishing lifecycle across Editorial, Design, and Media functions, from content development to final delivery.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Excel) and Adobe software.
• An interest or background in ELT.
• Experience in publishing or a similar industry.
• Experience with ERP systems like SAP, including reporting and purchase order creation.
• Experience engaging with third-party content suppliers and managing contracts.
• Experience working in a matrix organization.

We value work/life balance, offering 25 days’ holiday (rising with service), bank holidays, Christmas closure, and a 35-hour workweek. Flexibility in working patterns is open for discussion. We also provide active employee networks and societies, pension contributions up to 12%, loans, savings schemes, travel schemes, and local discounts. Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more details.