At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to manage IT procurement and optimise supplier relationships.
- Company: Smart, a leader in transforming financial wellbeing across generations.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, £500 training budget, extensive healthcare, and more.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a focus on diverse perspectives and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in tech sourcing while developing your career.
- Qualifications: 2 years in IT procurement, strong communication, and teamwork skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.
We are seeking a commercially minded Junior Sourcing Manager to join our Procurement and Vendor Management team on a 12-month fixed‑term maternity cover contract. This role will play a key part in advancing our procurement transformation agenda, with a particular focus on SaaS and technology services sourcing. The Junior Sourcing Manager will be responsible for partnering with stakeholders across the business to develop and execute sourcing strategies, optimise supplier relationships, and drive commercial value across our software portfolio. While the role will primarily focus on SaaS solutions and technology services, we are looking for a collaborative team player who is comfortable supporting sourcing activity across other spend categories when required.
Responsibilities
- Managing procurement activity for IT/Technology categories including hardware, software, SaaS.
- 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 areas of opportunity.
- Manage the RFQ/RFP process in conjunction with stakeholders for IT/technology requests.
- Optimise commercial and licence models through your knowledge of applicability/relevance of the licensing model 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 area whilst not compromising on quality.
- AdHoc management of renewals and low risk categories.
Who We Are Looking For
- 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 experience of IT category management / procurement
- Understanding of software licensing and 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
Benefits
- 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service.
- £500 annual training budget to spend on your 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, such as manicures, massages and barbers.
- 50% discount on orders from Arena Flowers, Britain's most ethical florist.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work. We believe that diverse perspectives help us lead the way in transforming retirement, savings, and financial wellbeing. We welcome differences in background, experience, thinking, and identity, and we recognise that innovation is strongest when it is built on inclusion and fairness. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we encourage you to let us know – we are committed to supporting you.
Junior SaaS Sourcing Manager employer: Smart Pension
At Smart, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions professional growth and a collaborative work culture. Our commitment to employee wellbeing is reflected in our generous benefits package, including extensive private healthcare, a £500 annual training budget, and a fully-paid five-week sabbatical after five years. Located in a vibrant environment, we foster inclusivity and innovation, making it a rewarding place for individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial wellbeing sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior SaaS Sourcing Manager
✨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 SaaS Sourcing Manager
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.