Procurement+ External Talent Strategy Lead - EMEA

Accenture UK & Ireland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture is seeking an External Talent Strategy Lead for EMEA to shape talent strategies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, partnering with regional and global stakeholders in Procurement, Talent Acquisition and Finance.

You will design initiatives across supplier management, workforce solutions, and channels, while delivering analytics-led decisions and ensuring compliance with policies. This role offers broad career development opportunities within a global network.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in Procurement, Workforce Strategy, Talent Supply Chain, Vendor Management, Staffing, Recruiting, or a related strategic function
• Experience operating in a global or regional matrix organization
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional stakeholder relationships and strategic programs
• Procurement and supplier management experience
• Workforce strategy and talent supply chain management experience
• Experience with strategic sourcing and RFP management
• Strong data analytics and reporting skills
• Vendor performance management and commercial negotiation experience
• Experience in process improvement and transformation
• Advanced stakeholder management, relationship-building, influencing, and communication skills
• Strong project and program management, problem-solving, analytical, market intelligence, and trend analysis skills
• Ability to lead through collaboration without direct authority, navigate ambiguity, and drive change
• Community leadership and knowledge-sharing mindset

Responsibilities

• Design, evolve, and support the implementation of the EMEA External Talent strategy aligned with global Procurement and business objectives
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders to support workforce and supplier strategies
• Lead strategic initiatives and projects focused on vendor management, talent acquisition channels, workforce innovation, and operational excellence
• Monitor EMEA-wide supplier performance, contract coverage, spend analytics, and reporting to identify opportunities for optimization
• Drive supplier selection, sourcing events, and strategic negotiations while promoting the use of global and regional strategic providers
• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks, dashboards, and analytics to support decision making
• Ensure compliance with procurement processes, local regulations, and Accenture policies
• Foster collaboration across the External Talent community through knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, and community leadership

Skills

Procurement

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Strategic thinking

Tools

Beeline

Workday

Job description

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services. With our thought leadership and culture of innovation, we apply industry expertise, diverse skill sets and next-generation technology to each busine s challenge.

We believe in inclusion and diversity and supporting the whole person. Our core values comprise of Stewardship, Best People, Client Value Creation, One Global Network, Respect for the Individual and Integrity. Year after year, Accenture is recognized worldwide not just for business performance but for inclusion and diversity too.

“Across the globe, one thing is universally true of the people of Accenture: We care deeply about what we do and the impact we have with our clients and with the communities in which we work and live. It is personal to all of us.” – Julie Sweet, Accenture CEO

Job description

We are seeking an experienced External Talent* Strategy Lead - EMEA to help shape and evolve Accenture's External Talent strategy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Within the Global Procurement organisation, you will play a key role in designing, defining, and driving External Talent strategies while partnering closely with regional and global stakeholders. You will support strategic initiatives, supplier management, analytics-led decision making, and workforce solutions that help Accenture access and manage external talent effectively.

Including sub-categories: Contractors, Recruitment, Services, Gig, Job Boards, Talent Services.

What’s in it for you?

• Shape and drive the EMEA External Talent strategy, working with regional and global stakeholders across Procurement, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, Operations, and Business Leadership
• Lead strategic initiatives across supplier management, workforce solutions, talent acquisition channels, and operational excellence, using data and market insights to support decision making
• Join a global team with opportunities to contribute to innovative External Talent solutions, while benefiting from a wide range of employee benefits and career development opportunities

Key Responsibilities

• Design, evolve, and support the implementation of the EMEA External Talent strategy aligned with global Procurement and business objectives
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders to support workforce and supplier strategies
• Lead strategic initiatives and projects focused on vendor management, talent acquisition channels, workforce innovation, and operational excellence
• Monitor EMEA-wide supplier performance, contract coverage, spend analytics, and reporting to identify opportunities for optimization
• Drive supplier selection, sourcing events, and strategic negotiations while promoting the use of global and regional strategic providers
• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks, dashboards, and analytics to support decision making
• Ensure compliance with procurement processes, local regulations, and Accenture policies
• Foster collaboration across the External Talent community through knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, and community leadership

Job Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in Procurement, Workforce Strategy, Talent Supply Chain, Vendor Management, Staffing, Recruiting, or a related strategic function
• Experience operating in a global or regional matrix organization
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional stakeholder relationships and strategic programs
• Procurement and supplier management experience
• Workforce strategy and talent supply chain management experience
• Experience with strategic sourcing and RFP management
• Strong data analytics and reporting skills
• Vendor performance management and commercial negotiation experience
• Experience in process improvement and transformation
• Advanced stakeholder management, relationship-building, influencing, and communication skills
• Strong project and program management, problem-solving, analytical, market intelligence, and trend analysis skills
• Ability to lead through collaboration without direct authority, navigate ambiguity, and drive change
• Community leadership and knowledge-sharing mindset

Bonus points for

• Experience within Professional Services, Consulting, Technology, or Managed Services environments
• Experience working across multiple EMEA countries
• Knowledge of external workforce models including contingent labor, contractors, freelancers, Services-Statement of Work (SoW), and managed services
• Experience with procurement technologies, talent tech (Beeline, Workday etc...), sourcing platforms, e-sourcing