Division/Dept

Group Procurement

Location

Flexible - London, Coventry, Manchester or Milton Keynes and Home.

Reporting to

Category Head of Procurement or Category Manager

In a nutshell

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Technology Procurement team, working across the Sainsburys group.  This buyer role will to be part of an award winning Sainsbury’s procurement function, having been named CIPS procurement team of the year 2019 and more recently CIPS Outstanding People Development Programme and highly commended for the best procurement transformation in 2020. 

We are looking for a talented IT buyer who has experience in supporting the development of category strategies, managing software renewals, and negotiating contracts to deliver transformational change at pace, in a multi-brand business. Within the technology procurement function we have a developing & dynamic team environment, that works closely with our stakeholders in delivery of best in class procurement outcomes, driving our ambitious three year cost transformation agenda.

You will be a source of insight and solutions; and become a confident subject matter expert who discovers new ideas that challenge and influence business strategy at all levels.

What you need to do

• Working in collaboration with Sourcing/Category managers, provide support to the development of complex commercial strategies that balance cost, quality and risk.
• Provide analytical and research support to projects and activities across the software category.
• Support the execution of sourcing activity including renewals, the preparation and management of sourcing events (RFIs/ RFPs), supplier appraisal and selection, negotiation and contract.
• Develop and execute category plans for specific Tech areas, building understanding on internal and external supply markets and influencing stakeholders to obtain support for your ideas. 
• Work flexibly across the category delivering commercial projects as required to maximise value for the Sainsbury’s Group.
• Ensuring all commercial activity completed in line with Sainsbury’s Procurement Policy
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How I will succeed

• Being organised able to prioritise actions
• Ability to multitask in a fast paced environment
• Supporting the design of appropriate specifications, service level agreements and commercial structures
• Preparing for and completing supplier negotiations, selecting appropriate techniques
• Work cross-functionally with other parts of the business
• Being commercially curious, understanding key cost drivers, influences and trends and using these to identify opportunities for improvement
• Understanding my suppliers and supply markets 
• With the support of your Category Manager, confidently deal with difficult conversations and negotiations with suppliers and stakeholders alike
• Be a critical business partner to your stakeholders, challenging and supporting them as appropriate
• Help your stakeholders manage the risk and operational performance of their suppliers as is necessary
• Balance the needs of your stakeholders, the business, customers and colleagues in all of your decisions
• Committed to delivering results and achieving the objectives agreed with your line manager
• Within business governance framework, deliver business as usual activity such as supplier appraisal and selection, contract terms, negotiation strategies and supplier management
• Always act with integrity, living the Sainsbury’s values every day

What you need to know

• Experience of Software / IT buying
• Commercial acumen and desire to build a career in Procurement
• Experience of working in a commercial environment, with relevant exposure to Procurement principles and techniques
• Experience in working as part of a cross-functional team and influencing others in order to land business change
• First rate written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of managing suppliers and stakeholders
• Experience of commercial negotiation with suppliers
• Basic legal knowledge and some experience of contract negotiation

What you need to show

• Autonomous and able to use initiative to problem solve without need for direction
• Curiosity and inquisitiveness
• Ability to apply an analytical and methodical approach to problem solving
• Being comfortable working with abstract ideas and detailed data
• Energetic, resilient and adaptable- effectively operate in dynamic, fast paced environments.

What decisions I can make

• The software category is c£100m revenue and capital expenditure and you will lead activity within this area

Resources available to me

• Buyers
• Sourcing Managers
• Category Managers

What we offer

If being part of a hugely influential team wasn’t enough, you’ll also receive a host of great benefits. As well as a competitive salary and a huge range of learning and development opportunities, you’ll also enjoy a bonus scheme, holiday allowance, pension, a save as you earn scheme and staff discounts at Sainsbury's, Argos and Habitat. 

Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.