Head of ICT Procurement

- attached to our Solihull or London office Full Time, Permanent Band 2 / £95,000-£110,000 (dependent on experience)

Here at Serco, we’re looking for an experienced and commercially focused Head of ICT Procurement to lead our ICT procurement strategy across the UK & Europe.

This is a senior, high-profile role with responsibility for how Serco buys and manages technology across key categories including software, infrastructure, networks and telecoms, and ICT professional services. You’ll make sure robust commercial agreements are in place, supplier relationships are managed effectively, and the business continues to achieve strong value while protecting itself from contractual and supply-chain risk.

You’ll also play an important role in supporting Serco’s growth ambitions, partnering with our Procurement Business Partners, Growth and Technology teams to provide category insight and expertise into bids. You’ll help shape competitive supply-chain solutions, strategically source and manage partners, and identify opportunities to leverage existing or new suppliers to support profitable growth.

Reporting to the UK & Europe Procurement Director, you’ll lead the UK-based ICT Category Team and act as Serco’s subject-matter expert for ICT procurement. Working closely with C-suite and senior stakeholders, you’ll translate complex business requirements into practical category strategies and sourcing plans that improve cost, service, innovation and supplier performance.

This is an opportunity to combine deep IT category expertise, strategic sourcing, commercial leadership and senior stakeholder influence in a complex and evolving organisation.

As part of this you’ll:

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of Serco’s ICT category strategy across the UK & Europe.
• Lead and develop a team of Category Managers, Senior Buyers and Buyers, setting clear priorities and enabling the successful delivery of the sourcing pipeline.
• Partner with Procurement Business Partners, Growth and Technology teams to bring ICT category insight and procurement expertise into bids and growth opportunities.
• Strategically source and manage technology partners, helping to create competitive propositions and supply-chain solutions which support new and profitable business growth.
• Build trusted relationships with C-suite, Board-level and other senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and securing support for category strategies.
• Ensure strong commercial contracts and appropriate contractual protections are in place across the ICT supplier base.
• Lead strategic relationships with key technology suppliers, driving performance, value and continuous improvement while managing commercial and operational risk.
• Translate category strategies into a clear, prioritised pipeline of sourcing projects and provide oversight and governance throughout their delivery.
• Deliver measurable savings and wider commercial benefits while improving service, quality, innovation and risk management.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex contractual matters, providing guidance to the team and working with legal colleagues where required.
• Track category spend, supplier performance, compliance, project delivery and benefits, taking corrective action where needed.

What you’ll need to do the role:

• Significant procurement and category management experience, with deep knowledge of the IT/ICT supplier market.
• Strong experience across relevant technology categories, such as software, infrastructure, networks, telecoms and ICT professional services.
• A proven track record of creating and implementing strategic category plans within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of leading, developing and delivering results through a procurement or category team.
• Strong commercial and contractual capability, including experience negotiating agreements, establishing effective contracts and resolving complex contractual matters.
• Experience partnering with senior business stakeholders to understand complex requirements and turn these into effective procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Proven supplier relationship management experience, with evidence of improving value, performance and commercial outcomes.
• The credibility and communication skills to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders at C-suite, MD and Board level.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to identify how Procurement can support wider business and growth objectives.
• Good knowledge of English contract law and experience negotiating and working with contractual terms.
• Experience operating successfully in a complex, changing and commercially demanding environment.

Why Serco:

Meaningful and vital work: In this position, your work will directly influence how Serco manages its technology supply base, protects the organisation from commercial risk and achieves sustainable value from third-party spend. You’ll have the opportunity to work across a globally operating business delivering essential services in five vital sectors. You’ll join a collaborative and supportive environment where you can build senior relationships, lead a specialist team and help shape how procurement supports the wider organisation.

What we offer:

• Company car/cash alternative
• Private healthcare
• 10% on target bonus scheme
• Flexible working considered
• Pension - 6%
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
• A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
• A safe and supportive culture.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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