Procurement Lead – Technology

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

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership seeks a Procurement Lead for Technology & Transformation to shape the procurement agenda and drive technology modernisation. You’ll partner with stakeholders, lead a team of Managers and Specialists, and align GNFR strategy with business goals in a hybrid office/home setup across Bracknell or London.

In this role you’ll challenge cost allocation, manage third-party relationships, deliver value through market insight and ethical sourcing, and build strong board-level

Qualifications

• Extensive procurement experience across GNFR technology categories.
• Ability to challenge cost allocation and supplier management.
• Strong business partnering at senior leadership level.
• Experience leading technology spend in a similar-sized organisation.
• Experience in setting and directing supplier/vendor management strategies.
• Proven track record building high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction for Technology & Transformation procurement.
• Develop long-term category plans with stakeholders.
• Manage suppliers under SRM framework and coordinate with Contract Managers.
• Drive pipeline development to support sourcing activity across spend levels.
• Ensure data and reporting are up to date and inform discussions with senior stakeholders.
• Build strong business partnering relationships with senior leadership.

Job description

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.

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 occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

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.