Sourcing Expert - External Workers - Non-Tech

McKinsey & Company; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Greater London is seeking a Sourcing Expert for External Workers Non-Tech. This position involves managing end-to-end sourcing cycles, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and driving innovative negotiation strategies. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in professional services, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to analyze performance metrics. A comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for professional growth are included in this role.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years focusing on professional services (non-tech).
• Deep expertise in Professional Services category dynamics necessary.
• Ability to analyze problems and lead analysis of key metrics.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end sourcing cycles including market analysis and RFP development.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, HR, and IT stakeholders.
• Define key performance indicators for sourcing performance metrics.

Skills

Vendor management

Data analytics

Financial acumen

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference.

When you join us, you will have :

• Continuous learning : Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters : From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community : With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Exceptional benefits : On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

Responsibilities

As a Sourcing Expert for External Workers Non-Tech, you will be responsible for managing end-to-end sourcing cycles, including market analysis, RFP / RFQ development, supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracting, and performance management.

In this role, you will collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including Finance, Legal, HR, and IT, in a dynamic and fast-paced, matrixed environment. Your ability to engage and align with these diverse teams will be critical to driving successful sourcing initiatives and achieving desired outcomes.

You will assess each sourcing situation and recommend the most effective approach based on the context and value objectives. This may involve strategies such as comprehensive Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotes (RFQs), or direct negotiations. Leveraging your expertise, you will drive the delivery of innovative and syndicated negotiation strategies for sourcing events. Your exceptional negotiation skills and supplier evaluation techniques, tailored to the non-IT professional services category, will ensure optimal results and value creation.

Additionally, you will partner with category managers, sourcing teams, purchasing teams, and other capabilities such as technology and procurement operations to establish seamless end-to-end processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs). These processes will ensure smooth handoffs, deliver consistent and auditable sourcing experiences, and enhance operational efficiency across the organization.

You will also identify and define key performance indicators (KPIs) for both strategic and operational performance metrics, such as spend under management. By implementing performance tracking against these targets and leveraging data analytics and spend analysis, you will uncover opportunities to enhance sourcing outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

Finally, you will play a pivotal role in delivering innovative and syndicated negotiation strategies for sourcing events. By applying your outstanding negotiation skills and supplier evaluation expertise tailored to the specific category, you will ensure the best possible outcomes and contribute to the overall success of the organization.

Your efforts will contribute to enhancing sourcing effectiveness through spend analysis, detailed cost assessments, strategy formulation, requirements alignment, RFP management, business case development, and disciplined negotiation practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years focusing on professional services (non-tech)
• Deep Expertise in the Professional Services category dynamics—covering rate benchmarking, contract structures (e.g., T&M, fixed price), and supplier relationship management—along with strong vendor management, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis skills. A solid understanding of compliance, risk management, and procurement policy frameworks
• Strong financial acumen, data analytics capability, and the ability to translate complex business requirements into effective sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value
• Ability to offer innovative ideas, constructively challenge conventional wisdom, and work collaboratively
• Proven ability to analyze problems, make wise recommendations, and lead analysis and reporting of key metrics
• Establish trust with colleagues across geographies, roles, and levels, and maintain a non-hierarchical approach with strong influencing capabilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information effectively to senior leaders and stakeholders
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to anticipate, identify, and mitigate issues affecting the firm's image and reputation