Professional Services Procurement Expert – HR Benefits
Location: London, GB
Chain IQ is a global AI‑driven Procurement Service Partner headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, offering end‑to‑end procurement solutions to help clients transform and scale their indirect spend.
Role Purpose
Are you a visionary sourcing leader with a passion for transforming how organisations attract, support, and develop their people? At Chain IQ, we’re looking for a bold, strategic HR Subject Matter Expert with deep UK Benefits expertise to join our Professional Services Sourcing team and help redefine the way HR services are delivered globally.
In this high‑impact role, you’ll architect sourcing initiatives for UK Benefits, Pensions, Insurance, and Learning & Development, covering employee benefits programmes, pension schemes, healthcare and wellbeing solutions, regulatory compliance, and supplier market evaluation, while also supporting broader HR sub‑categories including Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Payroll, Reward, and HRIS platforms.
You’ll collaborate with internal stakeholders and external clients to craft sourcing strategies that unlock value, spark innovation, and elevate operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Stakeholder Partnership
- Build trusted relationships with HR and business stakeholders.
- Act as a trusted advisor on employee benefits, pensions, and supplier strategies.
- Translate business needs into sourcing strategies and actionable procurement initiatives.
- Provide market intelligence, benchmarking insights, and commercial guidance to support decision‑making.
- Lead complex regional and global sourcing projects across Employee Benefits and Pensions categories.
- Develop and execute category strategies aligned with client and business objectives.
- Manage RFIs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and supplier selection processes.
- Drive sourcing initiatives that deliver measurable business value and sustainable savings.
- Lead commercial contract negotiations and contract management activities.
- Ensure contractual, commercial, operational, and regulatory risks are appropriately managed.
- Support compliance with applicable benefits, pensions, employment, and data privacy regulations.
- Partner with Legal, HR, and Risk teams to maintain strong governance standards.
- Monitor benefits market developments, industry trends, and supplier innovations.
- Advise stakeholders on best practices and emerging opportunities.
- Identify opportunities for transformation, process improvement, and value creation.
- Champion procurement excellence and category management best practices.
What You Bring
Procurement & Category Management Expertise
- Proven experience in strategic sourcing and category management within Employee Benefits and Pensions.
- Strong track record of delivering significant cost savings and measurable business value.
- Expertise in category strategy development, sourcing execution, and supplier optimization.
- Experience managing high‑value, complex, and multi‑country sourcing initiatives.
Employee Benefits Knowledge
- Deep understanding of employee benefits and pensions markets.
- Experience sourcing pensions, healthcare, risk benefits, wellbeing programmes, flexible benefits, and reward solutions.
- Strong knowledge of supplier capabilities, market dynamics, and industry trends.
- Ability to advise clients on benefits sourcing strategies and value optimization opportunities.
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Expertise in cost modelling, financial analysis, benchmarking, and total cost of ownership.
- Ability to develop commercial strategies that maximize value and mitigate risk.
- Results‑oriented mindset with a focus on delivering tangible business outcomes.
Stakeholder & Advisory Skills
- Ability to build credibility and influence senior stakeholders.
- Trusted advisor mindset with a consultative and solution‑oriented approach.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to balance commercial objectives with client and employee needs.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially driven and highly results‑oriented.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
- Proactive, resilient, and accountable.
- Collaborative and client‑focused.
- Thrives in fast‑paced, international, and complex business environments.
Commercial Expert / Category Manager - Contingent Workforce in London employer: Chain IQ
Chain IQ is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture in the heart of London. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring our team members thrive in their careers. Our commitment to meaningful work and impactful sourcing initiatives makes us a rewarding place for professionals seeking to make a difference in HR benefits and pensions.
