At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing initiatives for IT spend and manage complex categories.
- Company: Join Chain IQ, a global AI-driven Procurement Service Partner with a culture of innovation.
- Benefits: Dynamic international environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a Great Place to Work-certified team and shape the future of procurement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while working with senior IT stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge in IT services and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
At Chain IQ, your ideas move fast. Chain IQ is a global AI-driven Procurement Service Partner, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, with operations across main centres and 16 offices worldwide. We provide tailored, end‑to‑end procurement solutions that enable transformation, drive scalability, and deliver substantial reductions in our clients' indirect spend. Our culture is built on innovation, entrepreneurship, ownership, and impact. Here, your voice matters – bold thinking is encouraged, and action follows ambition.
Purpose of the Role
Deliver value add sourcing services across the full sourcing lifecycle for IT related spend (HW, SW, IT Services, ITO/BPO). The Lead IT Buyer acts as a senior sourcing leader capable of managing complex IT categories, leading strategic BCV and AVC workstreams, engaging senior IT stakeholders (CIO, IT directors), and providing guidance to junior sourcers.
Key Responsibilities
- End to End Sourcing Delivery: Lead sourcing initiatives across all phases: market analysis, RFP management, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and drafting of contractual documents. Manage regional and global initiatives concurrently, ensuring consistent, structured delivery.
- Category Leadership for IT / ITO: Act as the deep subject matter expert for IT (HW, SW, application development, testing, maintenance, infrastructure, cloud, ITO, BPO). Maintain global market awareness across major IT suppliers and service models. Bring proven experience working with Tier1 IT suppliers in Switzerland, UK, and global regions.
- BCV / AVC Contributions: Drive or support BCV (Business Case Validation) work: contract analysis, supplier assessment, spend insights, pipeline creation. Lead or co‑lead AVC (Accelerated Value Capture) initiatives by generating quick win savings, developing sourcing initiative pipelines, engaging stakeholders early to validate IT opportunities, and translating BCV insights into executable sourcing strategies.
- Senior Client & Stakeholder Management: Act as a senior interface to client IT leadership (CIO / IT Management). Confidently lead discussions, influence decision-makers, and align priorities. Represent Chain IQ as the primary expert in client engagements involving IT categories.
- Leadership & Team Development: Project lead a small team of sourcers where required. Coach, upskill, and support junior and tactical sourcers. Ensure adherence to standard sourcing processes, tools, and templates.
- Cross Functional Collaboration: Work jointly with legal, finance, compliance, and technical SMEs for complex deals. Partner with global teams for alignment on strategy and execution.
- Governance, Tools & Documentation: Maintain documentation quality and sourcing audit trails. Support digital sourcing tools (e.g., Archlet, Knowledge Hub). Contribute to category knowledge bases and internal best practice sharing.
Required Experience & Competencies
- Technical / Category Expertise: Deep knowledge in IT Services, Software, Hardware, ITO, BPO. Strong understanding of commercial models, rate cards, service towers, SLAs, and benchmarking practices.
- Sourcing Mastery: Advanced negotiation capability (commercial & contractual). Extensive experience managing complex RFPs, multi‑provider sourcing, and global supplier portfolios.
- Stakeholder & Communication Skills: Excellent communication with senior IT stakeholders. Ability to challenge and influence the business.
- Leadership & Ownership: Ability to take full ownership of sourcing workstreams (including BCV/AVC). Capable of coordinating across functions and geographies.
- Other Requirements: High client orientation. Strong analytical skills and ability to navigate matrix environments. Ability to manage multiple high priority projects simultaneously.
Join a truly global team. We offer a dynamic and international environment where high performance meets real purpose. We're proud to be Great Place to Work-certified and even prouder of the people who make that possible. Let’s shape the future of procurement – together. Chain IQ – Create. Lead. Make an impact.
Lead Buyer IT employer: Chain IQ Group AG
At Chain IQ, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Our dynamic, international environment in Baar, Switzerland, not only encourages bold thinking but also offers substantial opportunities for employee growth and development. With a strong focus on collaboration and impact, we empower our team members to take ownership of their work while providing tailored support and resources to ensure their success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Buyer IT
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Lead Buyer IT role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Chain IQ and its procurement strategies. Show us you understand our culture of innovation and how you can contribute to our mission. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Lead Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to influence decision-makers. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to sharpen those skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you're genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Buyer IT
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Expertise:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your deep knowledge in IT services and procurement. We want to see how your experience aligns with the role of Lead Buyer IT, so don’t hold back on showcasing your skills!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your application for Chain IQ. Mention specific projects or experiences that relate to our focus on innovation and impact. This shows us you’re genuinely interested in the role and understand what we’re all about.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities of the Lead Buyer IT position. We appreciate clarity and directness!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Chain IQ Group AG
✨Know Your IT Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of IT services, software, and hardware. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed complex RFPs or worked with Tier 1 IT suppliers. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the terms but can also apply them in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare to share examples of your negotiation successes. Think about times when you’ve influenced decision-makers or secured significant savings. Highlighting your advanced negotiation capabilities will demonstrate that you can handle the complexities of sourcing in a global environment.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Practice how you would approach senior IT stakeholders like CIOs or IT directors. Be ready to discuss how you would align priorities and influence their decisions. Showing that you can confidently lead discussions will set you apart as a strong candidate for this role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Potential
Think about your experience in leading teams or coaching junior sourcers. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure adherence to sourcing processes and how you’ve contributed to team development. This will highlight your ability to take ownership and lead effectively in a collaborative environment.
