At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive cost savings and develop sourcing strategies for diverse indirect spend areas.
- Company: Join James Fisher, a global leader in engineering services with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive benefits, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to safety, innovation, and sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while working with innovative teams across the globe.
- Qualifications: Experience in indirect procurement and strong negotiation skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Indirect Sourcing and Procurement Specialist supports the end-to-end source-to-pay process across a diverse portfolio of indirect spend, including professional services, IT, facilities, marketing, logistics, and corporate services. Reporting to the Group Indirect Procurement Manager, the role contributes to the development and delivery of category strategies, drives measurable cost savings, and ensures best-value sourcing aligned to business priorities and the One James Fisher strategy.
As part of the central Group procurement function, the position works closely with Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and other stakeholders across the UK and internationally to deliver compliant, commercially robust outcomes. With responsibility for supporting over £10m in annual spend, the role plays a key part in strengthening governance, improving data quality, rationalising suppliers, and supporting the delivery of the Group’s savings programme.
What you’ll be doing:
- Deliver category strategies across assigned indirect spend areas in line with the Group strategy.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFQs/RFPs, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contract award.
- Identify and deliver cost savings, value improvements, and risk mitigation through a defined pipeline.
- Use market analysis to inform sourcing decisions and maintain competitiveness.
- Manage preferred supplier lists based on performance, value, and risk.
- Build strong supplier relationships to drive quality, service, and continuous improvement.
- Monitor contract compliance and support supplier rationalisation.
- Support supplier performance reviews, proactively addressing issues and escalating risks.
- Raise and manage purchase orders in line with policy, systems, and authority levels.
- Ensure compliance with the Approved Vendor List and procurement governance standards.
- Support compliant supplier onboarding in line with AVL and due diligence requirements.
- Maintain accurate procurement records, contracts, and audit trails.
- Partner with stakeholders to shape demand and deliver commercial outcomes.
- Provide guidance on procurement processes and policies to internal teams.
- Promote a consistent and professional procurement approach across the Group.
- Analyse spend data to identify trends, opportunities, and risks.
- Track and report savings and procurement performance.
- Support process improvement and standardisation across indirect procurement.
Nice to have:
- CIPS qualification or working towards it.
- Experience developing or contributing to category strategies and savings pipelines.
- Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Exposure to sustainability, ESG, or responsible sourcing initiatives.
What we’re looking for:
- Demonstrable experience in indirect procurement, including end-to-end sourcing, supplier negotiation, and contract management.
- Strong negotiation skills with a track record of delivering measurable savings and value improvement.
- Experience operating within a procurement governance framework, including policy compliance, AVL management, and supplier onboarding controls.
- Experience in a multinational or matrix organisation, with the ability to manage cross-functional and cross-divisional stakeholder relationships.
- Analytical mindset with strong data interpretation skills and experience using spend data to identify opportunities.
- Knowledge of ERP procurement processes and purchase-to-pay workflows.
- Understanding of commercial terms, supplier risk management, and contract fundamentals.
- Excellent stakeholder management and the ability to influence across functions and levels of the organisation.
Why join us?
- Competitive benefits tailored to the division.
- Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation.
- A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions.
- Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability.
James Fisher is a global engineering services company with over 50 years of experience delivering complex offshore energy projects in some of the world’s most challenging environments. We operate across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport, leveraging cutting-edge technology and deep expertise to support the full lifecycle of our customers’ assets.
Our One James Fisher strategy unites our capabilities under a single vision, building a stronger, more cohesive business within the Blue Economy.
If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now! Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.
Indirect Sourcing and Procurement Specialist employer: James Fisher and Sons
At James Fisher, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive culture that values your contributions. As an Indirect Sourcing and Procurement Specialist, you'll enjoy competitive benefits, ample opportunities for career growth, and the chance to work on impactful projects within a global engineering services company. Our commitment to diversity and innovation ensures that every employee can thrive in their role while making a meaningful difference in the Blue Economy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Indirect Sourcing and Procurement Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the procurement field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have a lead or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around cost savings and supplier management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to identify trends and opportunities, which is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at James Fisher.
We think you need these skills to ace Indirect Sourcing and Procurement Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in indirect procurement. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements!
Show Off Your Negotiation Skills:Since negotiation is key in this role, share specific examples of successful negotiations you've led. We love seeing measurable savings and value improvements, so quantify your successes where possible!
Be Data Savvy:Demonstrate your analytical mindset by including any experience you have with spend data analysis. We’re keen on candidates who can identify trends and opportunities, so let us know how you've used data to drive decisions.
Apply Early!:We receive a lot of applications, and sometimes they close early. To avoid disappointment, make sure you apply through our website as soon as you can. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at James Fisher and Sons
✨Know Your Categories
Before the interview, dive deep into the specific indirect spend categories you'll be handling. Understand the nuances of professional services, IT, and logistics. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to contribute to category strategies right from the start.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations where you achieved measurable savings or value improvements. Be ready to discuss your approach to supplier evaluation and contract management. This will highlight your strong negotiation skills and your ability to deliver results in line with the company's goals.
✨Understand Compliance and Governance
Familiarise yourself with procurement governance frameworks and compliance standards. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed supplier onboarding and ensured adherence to policies in previous roles. This will reassure the interviewers that you can maintain high standards in procurement processes.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to talk about how you've used spend data to identify trends and opportunities. Discuss any experience you have with ERP systems and how you've leveraged data to drive procurement performance. This will show that you have the analytical mindset needed for the role.