Location : Reading (Hybrid 50% in office)
Contract : 6 months with possibility of extension
Hours : 40 hours per week, flexible working available
Sector : Energy / Utilities
The Opportunity
We are working with a leading organisation in the energy and utilities sector to recruit an experienced Contract Manager - Procurement Specialist on an initial 6 month contract based in Reading, with the possibility of extension for the right candidate. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially astute IT procurement professional to join a high-performing procurement function and make an immediate impact within a large, complex organisation.
The Role
Reporting to the Senior Contract Manager, you will be responsible for sourcing the supply of IT and Telco services in accordance with internal policies, procedures and external legislation - including Utilities Contract Regulations where applicable. Working closely with the IT Cyber team, Category Managers and Procurement Officers, you will develop contracting and negotiation strategies that ensure the lowest total cost of ownership whilst maintaining robust contractual provisions to mitigate risk. You will also support supplier relationship and performance management activities and continually drive efficiencies across sourcing and the wider procurement process.
Day to day you will be:
- Sourcing IT and Telco services in line with internal governance frameworks and applicable procurement legislation
- Developing and executing contracting and negotiation strategies in collaboration with IT Cyber, Legal, Data Protection and Information Security teams
- Authoring and drafting IT contracts with special terms, ensuring the organisation has the protection it needs for the long term
- Negotiating with Tier 1 technology partners to establish new or revised agreements that deliver demonstrable commercial benefit
- Managing complex contractual ecosystems and advising on approaches to remediate issues as they arise
- Supporting supplier relationship and performance management activities across the IT and Telco supply chain
- Driving continuous efficiencies in sourcing processes working alongside the wider Procurement and Commercial team
- Approximately 10 years of IT procurement experience, with a Cyber or Risk background being a distinct advantage
- Strong contract knowledge including the authoring of IT contract terms and the ability to explain and navigate complex contractual ecosystems
- Proven negotiation experience with Tier 1 technology partners, with the ability to identify and leverage commercial opportunities to benefit the organisation
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to coordinate effectively across Project, Legal, Data Protection, Information Security and supplier teams
- A broad knowledge of IT markets, business needs and UK Procurement Legislation
- A good understanding of relevant statutory and legal provisions with a highly developed drafting and writing ability
- Experience of procurement systems such as Oracle, Jaggaer, Bravo! or Achilles Utility Vendor Database would be beneficial
- Methodical, process-driven and target-focused with the confidence to challenge the norm and think creatively
- Excellent communication and numeracy skills with a self-sufficient and results-driven approach
- 6 month contract with possibility of extension
- Reading based with hybrid working — 50% in office
- 40 hours per week with flexible working available
- Competitive daily rate
- BPSS security clearance will be required
