Procurement Advisor

Bytes is a top provider of premium IT solutions and services, working with SMEs, corporations, and public sector organizations to modernize and digitally transform their IT infrastructures. Founded in 1982, Bytes has experienced significant growth, now employing over 750 people across seven locations in the UK and Ireland, with a turnover surpassing £1.8 billion in 2023.

At Bytes, we nurture talented individuals to achieve remarkable outcomes and are dedicated to supporting our employees through continuous training, guidance, and development to help you advance and fulfil your career goals. We foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, recognition and inclusivity and offer a wide range of benefits to support staff wellbeing.

Your Future Starts Here

PURPOSE OF JOB:

As Principal Consultant within Procurement Advisory, you will support internal and external clients in solving complex business challenges across the procurement domain. You will also be responsible for shaping our go to market procurement advisory services that deliver: Future proof operating models, spend value targeting and Execution of digital procurement transformations

People:

Our internal and external stakeholders have high expectations for project delivery. Whether it’s a tail end spend optimization, procurement transformation, strategic sourcing, or process design, you will be responsible for: providing scope and price to the internal teams, creating SoWs that clearly capture the Client’s needs and are aligned to our service propositions and delivery methodologies, leading the delivery of the services and guiding projects towards the Clients desired end state.

Processes:

Part of your role is to enhance internal and external processes so our stakeholders and clients can execute them in a more efficient manner. You will be responsible for making processes: Simple, Scalable, Effective and Efficient.

Technology:

As principal consultant You will be responsible for: Connecting internal and external stakeholders with emerging technology that will support their aims and strategies. Providing guidance to our clients on new automation opportunities using best in class procurement technology that will enhance their operations

Data:

You will have the ability to create valuable insights for our clients by establishing a comprehensive view of their operations through the integration of multiple data sources. These insights will enable our clients to unlock savings that can be utilized to drive and fuel future growth.

As the requirements of the business and our customers change, so this job profile, duties, responsibilities, and locations of the role (both geographically and within the business organisational structure) will be adjusted accordingly.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify and drive opportunities for improvement in clients procurement and operational performance.
• Develop and propose category and project strategies that maximise value for clients.
• Gain stakeholder engagement at all appropriate levels and influence effectively.
• Provide input into clients scope of requirements and specification design, proposing best practice approaches to the market.
• Ensure effective supplier and stakeholder management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Devise negotiation plans and manage negotiation process with clients and their suppliers.
• Agree on implementation plans and manage activities with client and supplier as required.

CORE COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Able to demonstrate the ability to undertake the defined Key and Individual responsibilities for the role.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating software contracts, identifying, and understanding key clauses that would require negotiation on behalf of the customer.
• Extensive knowledge of licensing terms and metrics and IT markets.
• Experience of working with Tier 1 technology partners (Microsoft, Oracle, Citrix, Checkpoint, Adobe etc).
• Strong Senior Level Stakeholder & Supplier Management.
• Experience of running both standard and complex contracting and sourcing strategies.
• Ability to manage RFI and RFPs and handle vendor negotiations.
• Advanced level of Microsoft Excel skill to facilitate analysis and presentation of data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with excellent customer facing/customer service skills.
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Able to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility including occasional out of hours working.
• Excellent organisational skills - able to manage and prioritise and tasks and time efficiently.
• Able to manage customer sensitive and sometimes confidential information.
• Able to understand contracts and terms and confident to suggest best purchasing strategies.
• Previous exposure to working with P2P, eProcurement tools, Contract Management systems and request management/support ticketing systems (ServiceNow).
• Able to work with other technical teams and stakeholders to provide end to end Software Contract Lifecycle Management.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Educational Qualifications

• Minimum A-Level Certified - Essential
• Batchelor’s Degree in a relevant subject - Desirable

Professional Qualifications

• CIPS Diploma (Standard, Advanced or Professional) - Essential
• ITAM/SAM Certification/Accreditation i.e., CSAM - Desirable
• ITIL Foundation - Desirable
• Project Management Accreditation i.e., PRINCE2 - Desirable

Work Experience:

• Greater than five (5) years demonstrable experience of delivering Software Procurement/Contract Management services, specifically focussed on contract optimisation at Lead Consultant level - Essential
• Detailed and comprehensive exposure to legal and commercial negotiation of software contracts. - Essential
• Demonstrable experience in delivering Procurement services and delivering savings (cost avoidance and cost savings YoY against budget) within a complex organisation. - Essential
• Knowledge of key vendor licensing schemes and contract offerings/structures - Must include Microsoft and at least one of the following; Oracle, IBM, SAP, Adobe, RedHat, Veritas and Symantec. - Desirable