Procurement Category Advisor - Professional Services in London

Procurement Category Advisor - Professional Services in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Chain IQ

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead high-impact projects in procurement and create value for top-tier clients.
  • 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 professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborate with global teams and engage directly with senior stakeholders.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming procurement strategies and optimising client outcomes.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in procurement, consulting mindset, and deep expertise in Professional Services.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Location: Zürich, CH; London, GB; Grand-Lancy, CH; Baar, CH; Lausanne, CH; Lisbon, PT

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 centers 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.

About the Role

This role sits at the intersection of consulting, procurement, and commercial value creation. As a Professional Services Category Expert Advisor, you will play a critical role in identifying, structuring, and validating savings opportunities. You will be leading and executing the Professional Services workstream in opportunity assessment projects before a potential client enters a strategic indirect procurement managed services partnership with Chain IQ.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead Professional Services category‑specific workstreams during opportunity assessment projects
  • Conduct interviews with senior stakeholders (e.g. CFO, CIO/CTO, CHRO, Functional Directors, Head of Operations, Head M&A) to understand operating models and demand drivers
  • Challenge the status quo of sourcing and procurement approaches
  • Analyze spend data, supplier landscapes, and key Professional Services supplier contracts
  • Identify and quantify savings and optimization opportunities (quick wins and structural improvements)
  • Translate findings into category strategies and supplier approaches
  • Prepare structured, executive‑ready deliverables and short presentations (e.g., category one‑pager summaries, deep dives)
  • Lead client‑facing discussions and challenge senior business and procurement stakeholders where required
  • Orchestrate inputs and benchmark data from your Chain IQ lead buyers, SMEs, and sourcing teams
  • Validate assumptions and ensure robustness of savings logic and recommendations
  • Contribute to internal knowledge building, playbooks, and Professional Services category insights

Your Profile

We are looking for senior profiles combining three dimensions of expertise:

  • Category Expertise: Deep expertise in the Professional Services category and expert‑level expertise in one or several Professional Services sub‑categories: Management & Strategy Consulting, Legal Services, IT Services, Contingent Workforce & Staffing Services, HR Services, Marketing Services. Strong understanding of global and regional supplier landscapes, pricing models, and key levers for optimizing outcomes.
  • Procurement Experience: Proven hands‑on experience in strategic sourcing / procurement. Track record of delivering measurable savings and optimizing outcomes. Experience negotiating complex supplier contracts.
  • Consulting Mindset: Experience in client‑facing roles and/or consulting/advisory. Ability to structure complex problems and communicate clearly.

Additional Requirements

  • 8+ years of relevant experience in a similar position
  • Strong commercial acumen and contract understanding in the Professional Services category
  • Ability to identify value opportunities quickly with limited data
  • Structured, analytical, and able to operate in ambiguity
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills
  • Fluent in English (additional languages are a plus)

What You Will Work On

  • High‑impact, fast‑paced projects across multiple industries for high‑calibre clients (USD 3bn+ revenue)
  • Direct exposure to senior client stakeholders
  • Opportunity to shape deal outcomes and value creation strategies
  • Collaboration with global teams across Europe and the Americas

What This Role Is (and Is Not)

This role is client‑facing, fast‑paced, and dynamic, as well as focused on value creation and strategy. This role is not a traditional sourcing / execution role, a back‑office or operational position, or a static, low‑intensity environment.

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.

Procurement Category Advisor - Professional Services in London employer: Chain IQ

At Chain IQ, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Our global presence in dynamic locations like Zürich and London provides employees with unique opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across diverse teams. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on impactful projects, we empower our team members to make meaningful contributions while enjoying the benefits of a Great Place to Work-certified environment.

Chain IQ

Contact Details:

Chain IQ Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Advisor - Professional Services in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the procurement and consulting fields. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential employers and showcase your expertise. Remember, it’s all about who you know!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its culture, especially Chain IQ's focus on innovation and impact. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, particularly in Professional Services.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, be prepared to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to procurement challenges. This will demonstrate your analytical mindset and ability to think on your feet.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.

We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Category Advisor - Professional Services in London

Category Expertise in Professional Services
Management & Strategy Consulting
Legal Services
IT Services
Contingent Workforce & Staffing Services
HR Services
Marketing Services

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Professional Services and procurement. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your expertise!

Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements and measurable outcomes. We love numbers, so if you’ve saved costs or improved processes, let us know the figures behind those successes!

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at Chain IQ

Know Your Category Inside Out

Make sure you have a deep understanding of the Professional Services category. Brush up on key trends, pricing models, and major players in the market. This will help you speak confidently about how you can leverage your expertise to identify savings opportunities.

Prepare for Stakeholder Interviews

Since you'll be conducting interviews with senior stakeholders, practice your questioning techniques. Think about what information you need to extract from them and how to challenge their current sourcing approaches effectively. Role-playing these conversations can really help.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Be ready to discuss how you've used data analysis in previous roles to drive procurement decisions. Prepare examples of how you've identified savings or optimised outcomes through spend data analysis. This will demonstrate your structured and analytical mindset.

Craft Executive-Ready Deliverables

Since you'll need to prepare presentations and summaries, practice creating concise, impactful deliverables. Focus on clarity and structure, ensuring that your findings are easy to digest for senior executives. This will show that you can communicate complex ideas effectively.