At a Glance
- Tasks: Build procurement processes from scratch and lead competitive tenders for a global brand.
- Company: Join a beloved retail brand with a rich heritage and global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and inclusive workplace culture.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across departments.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping a new procurement function in a fast-growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in building procurement functions and working in consumer-facing industries.
The Client
Harmonic are partnering with one of the most loved consumer brands in the world, a business with a quarter of a century of heritage and a genuinely global following. Entrepreneurial by nature, the business has scaled quickly, and procurement is a newly built function being established to match that pace of growth.
The Role
Reporting into the Global Head of Procurement, with procurement sitting within the finance function, this is a hands-on role for someone who can build procurement processes from the ground up. You will own the Professional Services category globally, running competitive tenders and negotiating contracts across paid media and search agencies, marketing agencies, a significant US ecommerce relationship, and travel and catering suppliers, including in-house hospitality.
This is a genuinely hands-on role, where you will personally run each tender and negotiation, and build the reporting and governance from scratch. You will work closely with stakeholders across finance, HR, legal, ecommerce and IT, who currently own these supplier relationships day to day, bringing them into a more structured and commercially rigorous process.
Key Responsibilities
- Build tender and contract negotiation processes from scratch for a Professional Services category
- Lead competitive tenders across paid media and search agencies, and other marketing agency relationships
- Manage significant US ecommerce-related spend
- Negotiate and manage travel and catering contracts, including in-house hospitality suppliers
- Identify and deliver cost savings across the supplier base as the business continues to scale
- Partner closely with finance, HR, legal, ecommerce and IT stakeholders who currently own supplier relationships
- Establish reporting, governance and ways of working for a procurement function that is less than a year old
Essential Experience
- Proven experience building a procurement function or process from scratch
- Background in a consumer-facing business: retail, FMCG, hospitality, or luxury strongly preferred
- Experience procuring professional and indirect services (marketing, agency, HR, legal, travel)
- Confident, hands-on operator, comfortable without an existing team or established process to lean on
Salary: £80,000-100,000 Pro Rata + benefits
Contract length: 6 months
Location: London (Hybrid, 3 days per week in office)
Start Date: ASAP
At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.
Senior Procurement Manager | Leading Retail Brand | London in Slough employer: Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp
Harmonic is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for a Senior Finance Analyst to thrive in a remote-first, AI-driven environment. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, you will receive mentorship from experienced leaders while contributing to transformative finance processes in a rapidly scaling B2B SaaS company. The inclusive work culture and commitment to innovation make it a rewarding place to build your career.
Contact Details:
Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Procurement Manager | Leading Retail Brand | London in Slough
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Procurement Manager | Leading Retail Brand | London in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harmonic FinanceTM | Certified B Corp
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
