Procurement Manager in Acton, Suffolk

As people increasingly move across channels and platforms, Kantar Media’s TGI data and audience measurement, targeting, analytics and advertising intelligence services unlock insights to inform powerful decision-making. Working with panel and first-party data in over 80 countries, we have the world’s fastest growing cross-media measurement footprint, underpinned by versatility, scale, technology and expertise, to drive long-term business growth for our clients and partners.

This is a full-time permanent position, based in our London office. We operate on a hybrid working arrangement and require a minimum of 2 days in the office. We welcome all applications from those with the legal right to live and work permanently in the UK, without requiring VISA sponsorship now or in the future.

Exciting opportunity to join a green-field Procurement function managing approximately $140m of global third-party spend in a fast-moving and dynamic environment. This role will manage sourcing and purchasing activities across Kantar Media, with a strong focus on Indirect and IT spend categories, including software, SaaS, cloud services, professional services, and technology vendors. The role will develop and execute sourcing strategies to ensure the acquisition of goods and services at competitive prices, while optimising total cost of ownership, managing supplier and technology risk, and ensuring procurement and governance compliance.

The position will work closely with Technology, Security, Finance, and Legal teams to support vendor selection, contract negotiations, renewals, licensing models, and demand management, enabling scalable and cost-effective technology outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing and Supplier Management: Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to secure the best quality products and services at the most competitive prices. Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure quality and reliability.
• Procurement Strategy Development: Develop and implement procurement strategies that align with the organization's goals and objectives, ensuring compliance with policies and legal requirements.
• Cost Management: Monitor and analyse procurement costs, suggesting methods to reduce expenditures while maintaining quality standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal departments to understand their procurement needs and ensure that procurement policies support organizational requirements.
• Risk Management: Assess and mitigate risks associated with procurement activities, including sustainability and ethical considerations.
• Reporting and Analysis: Create and manage procurement reports, analysing data to inform decision-making and improve procurement processes.

Capabilities and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years Procurement/Category experience in a fast-moving global environment.
• Indirect category management experience in the following areas: Professional Services, Travel, HR, Property, External Audit, Telephony, Marketing, Data and subscriptions.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing sourcing strategies to deliver improved supplier cost performance.
• Extensive knowledge of the fundamentals of purchasing, negotiation and contracting.
• Experience with Industry standard ERP systems.
• Experience with global purchasing organisations and global suppliers.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
• Proficiency in financial analysis.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in supplier management and relationship building.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Bachelors Degree and/or MCIPS.

At Kantar, the diversity of our employees provides a richer environment for our employees and broader depth and breadth of thinking for our clients. Kantar is committed to inclusion and diversity; therefore, we welcome applications from all sections of society and do not discriminate based on age, race, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

At Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear, and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver.

We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted, and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and wellbeing is taken into consideration. We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes.

PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: Please note that by applying to this opportunity you consent to the personal data you provide to us to be processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited (“Kantar”). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for as long as is necessary for the purposes of recruitment, which may include your details being shared with the hiring manager(s) and for consideration for potential future opportunities by Kantar and its affiliate Kantar group companies.