Procurement Lead, - Technology

John Lewis Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 76,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership is seeking a Procurement Lead for Technology & Transformation to drive modernisation across GNFR. You will partner with senior stakeholders, shape strategic category plans and lead a team of Procurement Managers and Specialists to deliver value for customers and the business.

Hybrid working applies with a mix of office and home in London or Bracknell, and a salary that recognises experience, with a strong focus on strategic sourcing and supplier management.

Qualifications

• Significant direct experience in procurement of Enterprise Software, Cloud Solutions, SaaS and IT services.
• Expert at Business Partnering and board-level relationships.
• Experience leading the technology spend category in a large organisation.
• Broad experience setting and directing supplier/vendor management strategies.
• Proven track record of managing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of third-party contract frameworks.
• Desirable MCIPS qualification or progress toward it.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction for T&T procurement and drive value.
• Build and coach a high-performing procurement team with agility and continuous improvement.
• Develop senior-level business partnerships and contribute to strategic discussions.
• Create long-term Category Plans with key stakeholders.
• Ensure effective supplier management under SRM framework.
• Translate strategy into an ongoing sourcing pipeline across spend levels.
• Utilise data and reporting to inform discussions with senior stakeholders.
• Leverage market insights to anticipate customer requirements and technology trends.

Skills

Tech procurement

Business partnering

Tech spend ownership

Vendor management

People leadership

Contract frameworks

MCIPS (desirable)

Education

MCIPS certification

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Procurement Lead to drive the Technology & Transformation (T&T) procurement agenda with a focus on technology modernisation. Working alongside the Procurement leadership team and supported by a number of Procurement Managers and Specialists you will partner with stakeholders across the John Lewis Partnership offering strategic guidance, advice and support to ensure we create more value for our customers and our business.

You will be responsible for managing all procurement activity in this category of GNFR and actively challenge how the business allocates costs, commits, spends and manages third parties. You will create value for the business through market insight and competitive sourcing, make ethical sourcing decisions and encourage and welcome a diverse supply base.

With your expert knowledge, strategic mindset and ability to build strong business partnering relationships, you will deliver performance excellence in the team and enable Partnership success.

At a glance

• Contract Type - This position is a permanent contract
  

• Working Pattern - We know flexible working is important to you, and it is important to us too. The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach meaning you’ll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. Due to the nature of this role, you should expect to spend approximately half of the week in person with your stakeholders.

The role could also be based at either our Bracknell or London campus based on your preference.

• Salary range - The salary range for this role is set at £75,600 - £140,000 (depending upon experience)

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic thinking and action - lead the strategic direction for T&T Procurement. Demonstrate visionary and conceptual category expertise, translating the strategic Procurement direction to an agenda that delivers commercial results and positive outcomes for the Partnership
  

• Lead and develop the procurement team building a culture of agility and continuous improvement with strong motivation, positivity and democratic engagement and vitality at all levels
  

• Build strong business partnering relationships at senior leadership level ensuring attendance T&T leadership team meetings and make a proactive and valued input and challenge to strategic conversation and outcomes
  

• Create strategic (long term) Category Plans with your stakeholders

• Ensure the effective management of all suppliers in your category by Business Contract Managers, and where appropriate, Procurement in line with the SRM framework

• Ensure that your strategic planning translates into effective and ongoing pipeline development to support sourcing activity across your category at all spend levels

• Ensure systems and data are effectively utilised and managed by keeping all data and reporting up to date and accurate and by using this to inform discussions with your team and to drive strategic thinking with senior stakeholders in the business

• Leverage insight and internal and external networks to keep abreast of key customer requirements, market conditions and trends, for technological advancements, and feed these into strategic thinking.

_ Internally the role is known as Procurement Lead - Transformation & Technology _

Essential skills you’ll need

• Significant direct experience in procurement of: Enterprise Software, Software Licensing, Cloud Solutions, SaaS, Cyber Security and IT Professional Services (including outsourcing)
  

• Expert at Business Partnering and developing strong board level relationships

• Previous experience of leading and owning the technology spend category in a similar size organisation

• Significant and broad experience of setting and directing supplier / vendor management strategies

• Extensive experience of managing and developing high performing teams

• Robust understanding of third-party contract frameworks.

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of other procurement categories
• Professional Negotiation such as The GAP Partnership Essential and/or Complete Skilled Negotiator
• MCIPS qualified or working towards.

Additional Information

• Should your initial application be successful, the subsequent stages will consist of a virtual interview.

Closing Date

September 16, 2026

Pay

£75,600.00 - £140,000.00 Annual

Contract Type

Permanent

Hours of Work

35

Job Level

Partnership Level 5

Where You’ll Be Working

London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, , SW1V 2QQ

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.