At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global procurement for Travel and MICE, shaping strategies and managing supplier relationships.
- Company: Join a well-known global brand during a transformative growth phase.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to influence business operations and stakeholder engagement.
- Why this job: Be a key player in building a new procurement function with significant visibility.
- Qualifications: 8-10+ years in procurement with experience in global Travel and MICE categories.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Exciting opportunity with our client to help build a global function. What makes this especially compelling is that you’re not just stepping into a role—you’re helping shape how the business operates moving forward, with real visibility and impact. It’s a chance to be part of a well-known global brand at a pivotal moment of transformation and growth.
About the Role:
- Owns end-to-end procurement for Global Travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events), including strategy development, sourcing, contracting, and ongoing supplier management across key spend categories such as air, hotel, ground transportation, online booking tools, TMCs, event agencies, venues, and production.
Responsibilities:
- Acts as the primary commercial partner to HR, Finance, business units, and senior leadership, translating traveler, meeting, and event requirements into effective category and sourcing strategies and contract structures.
- Leads commercial negotiations with travel management companies, airlines, hotel chains, ground providers, and MICE/event agencies to deliver cost savings and avoidance, duty-of-care support, policy compliance, and traveler/attendee experience improvements.
- Plays a critical role in standing up and maturing the indirect procurement function, with specific focus on vendor selection and contract execution.
- Ensures all travel and MICE providers, their selection, and contracts comply with company code of conduct, internal procurement and travel policies, traveler safety and duty-of-care standards, and applicable regulations.
- Participates in key stakeholder forums (e.g., HR, Finance, Safety/Compliance), acting as the bridge between business leadership and procurement while providing commercial input and ensuring strategic alignment of travel and MICE activities with business priorities.
Qualifications:
- 8–10+ years of experience in procurement, category management, and strategic sourcing, with direct experience managing global Travel and/or MICE categories.
- Proven track record of leading complex negotiations and managing strategic relationships with TMCs, airlines, hotel groups, and/or event agencies in a matrixed environment.
- Strong understanding of corporate travel and MICE market models, including TMC service models, airline and hotel corporate programs, dynamic and negotiated pricing, and event agency/production fee structures.
- Experience supporting organizational change, separations/carve‑outs, or procurement function stand‑ups is strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical skills, including comfort with spend, rate, utilization, and savings analyses, and the ability to translate data into actionable sourcing and policy recommendations.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across HR, Finance, business units, and senior leadership.
- Familiarity with online booking tools, expense platforms, and travel technology ecosystems is highly desirable.
What Makes This Opportunity Unique:
- Shape and build a new indirect procurement organization from the ground up, including stand‑up of a unified Travel.
Procurement Manager - Global Travel and MICE employer: ZRG Careers
Join a dynamic and innovative global brand as a Procurement Manager for Global Travel and MICE, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape the future of procurement within the organisation. Our collaborative work culture fosters creativity and growth, providing employees with extensive professional development opportunities and the chance to make a tangible impact on business operations. Located in a vibrant city, we offer competitive benefits and a supportive environment that values your contributions and prioritises your well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Manager - Global Travel and MICE
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the procurement and travel sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in global travel and MICE. Show them you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t shy away from showcasing your negotiation skills. Be ready to discuss past successes in managing supplier relationships and driving cost savings. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate your value!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be just what you’re looking for. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Manager - Global Travel and MICE
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Procurement Manager. Highlight your experience in global travel and MICE, and don’t forget to showcase those complex negotiations you’ve led. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about shaping a new procurement function. Share specific examples of how you’ve driven change in previous roles, and let us know how you can bring that expertise to our team.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to highlight your analytical skills in your application. Talk about how you’ve used data to inform sourcing strategies or improve supplier relationships. We love numbers, so show us what you’ve got!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at ZRG Careers
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your procurement knowledge, especially around global travel and MICE. Understand the latest trends, challenges, and best practices in the industry. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples of complex negotiations you've led in the past. Highlight how you achieved cost savings or improved supplier relationships. This is crucial for a role that involves leading negotiations with TMCs, airlines, and event agencies.
✨Understand Stakeholder Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with how different departments like HR and Finance operate. Be ready to explain how you would bridge the gap between procurement and these teams. Demonstrating your ability to manage stakeholder relationships will be key to showing you can align procurement strategies with business priorities.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform sourcing decisions in the past. Whether it's spend analysis or savings tracking, being able to translate data into actionable insights will set you apart as a candidate who can drive results.
