Professional Services Sourcing Manager

Visa Europe Sourcing has an opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced, and results‑driven Professional Services Category Manager. The role will lead change, elevate the procurement function, and cement strategic business partnerships. The successful candidate will be excited to drive efficiencies, challenge the status quo, and build close, strategic stakeholder and supplier relationships.

Role Summary

This role undertakes category sourcing focused on Professional Services Category. It reports to the Europe Head of Professional Services and Marketing Category. The candidate must have experience in all Professional Services categories at both strategic and tactical levels: Consulting, BPO, Legal, Audit and Risk, and Tax and Accounting categories. Geographical scope is Europe, providing support to Global Sourcing teams and regional teams as requested. All roles require digital fluency, including the ability to work with emerging technologies such as Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) to support everyday work.

Shape & Deliver Value

• Contributes to the development of the functional agenda by monitoring market trends, competitive dynamics, and stakeholder needs to support strategic planning and execution.
• Identifies and explores opportunities for value creation, recommending enhancements to current practices and supporting innovation initiatives aligned with strategic goals.
• Translates business and market insights into actionable plans, engaging stakeholders through clear communication and well‑structured proposals.
• Supports alignment of regional and functional priorities with broader organisational objectives, collaborating across teams to ensure effective deployment of resources and capabilities.
• Drives change initiatives within the function, contributing to vision‑setting, gaining team buy‑in, and tracking progress against defined outcomes.

Drive Functional Excellence & Innovation

• Implements consistent demand planning and forecasting processes across relevant areas of the organisation.
• Assesses sourcing initiatives and projects, providing analysis and recommendations to support decision‑making.
• Prepares sourcing reports and insights for review by senior management, ensuring clarity and relevance.
• Champions continuous improvement through adoption of best practices and innovative solutions, contributing to functional excellence.
• Develops and refines tools and templates, supports AI adoption, and maintains high standards for team and business deliverables.

Set Direction & Orchestrate Change

• Acts with urgency to resolve issues and deliver results, maintaining momentum across initiatives.
• Engages team members in decision‑making processes to build ownership and alignment.
• Clearly frames issues and options when escalating decisions to senior leadership.
• Fosters a high‑performance culture, positioning the function as a reliable business partner.
• Leads collaborative efforts to identify opportunities and implement change, advocating for improvements across the function.
• Creates an inclusive and safe team environment that encourages open dialogue and diverse perspectives, supporting enterprise‑wide change.

Category Management & Operating Model

• Develop and execute (sub) Category strategies, plans, and projects.
• Responsible for the delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises cross‑functional teams and partners.
• Execute strategic and tactical sourcing activities.
• Incorporate responsible sourcing objectives into category activities.
• Manage Category spend, supplier relationships, and opportunities, developing and maintaining Preferred Supplier Lists (PSL) and managing tail spend.

Functional Planning & Performance

• Lead defined sections of the sourcing planning and forecasting by aligning category plans to support the Sourcing strategy.
• Act as a Sourcing Business Partner to stakeholder teams in the UK and Europe, ensuring end‑to‑end responsibilities for Sourcing activities.
• Through strong relationships with business stakeholders, understand sub‑category strategies, plans, and priorities to better support business objectives.
• Support cross Professional Services Category transactions in support of broader Product team goals as required.

Performance Management & Reporting

• Report on Category progress and performance using key metrics.
• Undertake supplier management activities for key strategic suppliers.

Governance & Best Practice

• Incorporate digital tools, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI/Agentic AI) to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
• Deliver financial and other business values through leading practices.
• Operate a data‑driven, risk‑aware culture that integrates sustainability, inclusion, and ethical decision‑making.
• Identify efficiency opportunities in the sourcing process and deliver using Lean Six Sigma and other process optimisation tools.
• Ensure robust risk management, control frameworks, and audit readiness to maintain functional resilience across European markets.
• Support an inclusive, psychologically safe environment that encourages curiosity, accountability, and collaboration.

Capability Development & Communications

• Drive continuous improvements and support digitalisation.
• Support delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises cross‑functional teams and partners.
• Lead medium‑complex change initiatives with disciplined execution, strong governance, and effective communication; report delivery and achievement against plan and objectives.
• Represent Europe Sourcing internally and externally, enhancing the function’s reputation and strategic value.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Degree level education, preferably in Supply Chain, Business, or Technology.
• 5–7 years’ experience in Professional Services Categories.
• Advanced procurement and sourcing technical and analytical skills and strong knowledge of how good looks like.
• Strong experience in the sub‑categories, relevant suppliers and market dynamics, business models, contract negotiations, implementation, and supplier relationship management.
• Project leadership skills with experience in delivering large and complex Sourcing projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build collaborative relationships.
• Energy, pace, and an impeccable track record of delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postgraduate procurement accreditation (MCIPS or MIIAPS).
• Experience in financial service, FinTech or technology organisations.
• Lean Six Sigma, white or yellow belt.
• Operating in a large, multi‑country region with a complex stakeholder matrix.

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.