At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage IT procurement, optimise supplier relationships, and drive commercial value.
- Company: Join Smart, a leading financial technology company transforming retirement savings.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, professional development budget, and extensive healthcare.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with excellent career growth and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a team revolutionising financial wellbeing with innovative tech solutions.
- Qualifications: 2 years in IT procurement, strong communication, and multitasking skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Overview
At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.
Role
We are seeking a commercially minded Junior Procurement Manager to join our Procurement and Vendor Management team on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract.
This role will advance our procurement transformation agenda, with a focus on Saa S and technology services sourcing.
The Junior Procurement Manager will partner with stakeholders to develop and execute sourcing strategies, optimise supplier relationships, and drive commercial value across our software portfolio.
While the role focuses primarily on Saa S solutions and technology services, you will support sourcing activity across other spend categories when required.
Responsibilities
- Managing procurement activity for IT/Technology categories including hardware, software, and Saa S.
- Support the Senior Sourcing Manager to build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders, becoming the go-to person for IT/Technology procurement within the business.
- Vendor and spend data analysis to identify key IT spend opportunities.
- Manage the RFQ/RFP process in conjunction with stakeholders for IT/technology requests.
- Optimise commercial and licence models by applying knowledge of licensing relevance to the requirement.
- Lead or support negotiations and renegotiate existing contracts with vendors in conjunction with stakeholders.
- Drive commercial benefits and savings within your category while maintaining quality.
- Ad hoc management of renewals and low-risk categories.
Who we are looking for
The skills, experience, and aptitudes we are looking for are listed below.
Don’t be discouraged from applying if you don’t meet every criterion – a can-do attitude is often more important than ticking every box.
- Process driven
- Good written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build relationships
- Able to prioritise workload and multitask while maintaining high standards
- Able to take direction and run with a task
- At least 2 years of IT category management / procurement experience
- Understanding of software licensing, IT networks and infrastructure, and other IT equipment and services
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Preferable experience within Omnea as a Procurement tool
Who we are
We work in partnerships with governments and financial institutions in the UK and internationally.
Our cloud-native digital platform is revolutionising how people think about, and save for, retirement.
We are a financial technology business focused on innovation and using the power of digital change to put the customer first.
Our Engineers work with and learn from like-minded people to develop world-class technological solutions.
Our colleagues value Smart’s culture and the impact we make on better financial outcomes for savers.
We invite you to see what our people say about working at Smart on Linked In Life and Glassdoor.
Benefits
We offer a benefits package aligned with our principle: “We want happy and good people in our team.” Notable benefits include:
- 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service
- £500 annual training budget for professional development
- Extensive private healthcare, including dental, eyecare and EAP
- Enhanced sick leave (three months’ pay per year)
- Enhanced maternity and paternity (maternity – 6 months fully paid / paternity – 3 weeks fully paid)
- Death in service insurance cover
- Fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years of employment
- In-office wellbeing services
- 50% discount on orders from Arena Flowers
We are committed to an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work.
We welcome diverse backgrounds and experiences and encourage applications from all protected characteristics.
If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, please let us know.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Procurement Manager - IT
✨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 Junior Procurement Manager - IT
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 Smart Pension 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, Smart Pension 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 Smart Pension 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 Smart Pension 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 Smart Pension
✨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.
