Job Description

The Head of IT Procurement is responsible for strategically managing the sourcing and procurement of IT products and services to ensure cost efficiency, compliance, and alignment with business objectives.



This role bridges the needs of the Technology Services team with commercial strategy, driving contractor performance and procurement delivery.

What you'll be doing

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Leadership of a specific spend category team, comprising a market management, sourcing delivery, and supplier collaboration capability. Responsible for building influential relationships with relevant business stakeholders through the implementation of the full business partnering model. Lead the development and implementation of highly complex, business critical and high spend (greater than 150M) market strategies, influencing annual spend of more than 80M per annum. Oversight of the team in their delivery of market, sourcing and supplier collaboration led value. Responsible for facilitating the delivery of multi-million pound savings and defined benefits, working in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, approved by Finance, and applied to budgets, where applicable. Lead the annual business planning process for the specific spend category and relevant stakeholders. Lead regular external market benchmark assessments, reflected in the integrated market strategies, to include competitor market watch assessments, market trend analysis, market dynamics and innovation. Active management of business compliance to the Procurement Policy specific to spend category, whilst ensuring workload management & prioritisation and agile working methodologies are adopted for qualified opportunities. Recognised throughout UU and the external market for their market, sourcing and supplier collaboration management expertise. Bring innovation, insights, and ideas back into UU to solve real business problems and to support the delivery and success of the business. Lead a team of motivated and talented commercial professionals, fostering team-work, coaching, challenging, promoting talent management, with a succession plan implemented.

Technical Skills & Experience

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Extensive experience in a reputable organisation, or experience working in a equivalent Role. Preferably degree educated, with a relevant post-graduate qualification (e.g. CIPS,RICS, MBA, MSC) Significant experience of leading business critical spend categories, sourcing strategies, and strategic supplier relationships. Proven senior level stakeholder management and business partnering skillset. A demonstrable level of line management experience. Proven level of negotiation and dispute resolution skill set. Politically savvy, with the ability to use exemplary direct and indirect influencing strategies. Demonstrable level of problem-solving experience and in large, complex organisations Experience with cross-functional collaborative working methods. Detailed knowledge of the Utilities market sector. Project management experience would be an advantage Knowledge of vendor evaluation, selection, and management to engage with external technology partners effectively. Extensive knowledge of Information Technology industry regulations and data privacy laws to ensure technology practices align with legal requirements Understanding of the Commercial role in IT governance, IT strategy and Enterprise architecture. Proficient understanding of IT delivery methodologies such as agile project management and DevOps Proficient understanding of IT service management, including incident and problem management tools and support processes.

Qualifications

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Essential Qualifications

Degree educated, with a relevant post-graduate qualification (e.g. CIPS,RICS, MBA, MSC)

Desirable

Specific knowledge of Technology use in Utilities or Energy Sector. E.g. Water Network Management Systems, Geospatial, SatelliteKnowledge of OT and its impact on the Technology Services Estate

Other

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We rely on every employee to ensure our customers receive the best possible service, day in, day out. In return, we ensure that you will be well rewarded for your efforts, from an excellent salary through to development opportunities that will really kick start a thriving career here at UU.





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