Job Description

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why many are incredibly longstanding. And we enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 100 years.



We are where you need us to be. We are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. Our international footprint is extensive and committed.




We are at our best tackling complexity and navigating change. We work alongside you on demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.




We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, ESG, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world, including technology and digitalisation.



All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.



Your goals. Our ambition.

The Opportunity

Primary Objectives

Support sourcing and supplier management activities for Knowledge & Research and Marketing & Events under the guidance of line managers. Contribute to delivering of savings, value, risk reduction, and service quality; support policy compliance. Support Office Operations and HR & Professional Services Managers with sourcing events, renewals, and analytics. Build strong working relationships with stakeholders and learn speed-to-contract. Participate in the development and execution of category plans as part of your training.

Primary Responsibilities

Assist with category activities (K&R; M&E): market research, demand management, and category plans under supervision. Support the source-to-contract process: help with intake, RFI/RFP/RFQ preparation, basic cost analysis, negotiation support, onboarding, and contract administration. Help monitor supplier performance and support due diligence activities (privacy, info sec, ESG) as directed. Engage with stakeholders to gather requirements and learn about briefs/SOWs, process, and policy. Provide support to Office Ops and HR/PS: assist with low-mid value RFx, spot-buys, renewals, data gathering, PO and contract admin; participate in complex events as a learning opportunity. Assist with data/analytics: help with spend analysis, savings tracking, compliance reporting, and dashboards. Support governance activities: help ensure competitive sourcing, approvals, contract management, and record-keeping. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives: contribute to templates, playbooks, lessons learned, and tool adoption.

Key Performance Indicators

Savings and cost avoidance vs. baseline/budget. Sourcing cycle time (intake to award) and on-time renewals. Contract coverage (% of spend under contract) and competitive event ratio. Policy compliance and data quality (accuracy/timeliness in tools). Supplier performance (SLA attainment, QBR completion, issue resolution time). Stakeholder satisfaction. ESG/diversity targets and risk assessments completed

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, economics, marketing, or a related field (or expected completion soon). Recent graduate or up to 1 year of experience in procurement, sourcing, or a related field. Interest in procurement and willingness to learn; familiarity with subscriptions/data, research, agencies, creative, media, or events is a plus but not required. Willingness to learn e-sourcing tools and Excel; basic understanding of contracts is helpful but not required. Strong analytical and communication skills; eagerness to develop commercial and negotiation skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks and work collaboratively in a team environment. Interest in legal/compliance topics (privacy, IP, marketing compliance, anti-bribery). Willingness to pursue CIPS certification or other relevant training Willingness to collaborate and build relationships with stakeholders. Eagerness to learn negotiation and communication skills. Analytical thinking and problem-solving potential. Ability to plan, prioritise, and manage time effectively while learning to work with multiple managers. Motivation to take ownership of tasks and follow through. Curiosity and willingness to learn quickly. Adaptability and teamwork in a collaborative environment. Integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail. Resilience and a positive attitude when facing new challenges.

Team

Business Finance

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values--Human, Bold, and Outstanding.