Head of Strategic Sourcing

Job Description At abrdn, our purpose is to enable our clients to be better investors. Clients worldwide trust us to find future-fit investment opportunities to deliver the outcomes they want. Our technology and insight help empower them to make better decisions, while the powerful partnerships we build help to enhance the expertise that we offer. And by enabling clients to invest responsibly, it helps us to build a better world. We have an excellent opportunity for a Head of Strategic Sourcing to join our Source to Pay Team. This is a permanent role, based in Edinburgh. About the Department The Source to Pay Team support the wider business in the procuring of goods and /or services and manging suppliers and partners to enable the organisation’s day to day operations. Using effective business partnering we support the delivery of commercial value whilst achieving improved service and effective risk management within the supply chain. About the Role Lead and develop the Procurement onshore team. Development of team at a strategic level ensuring all team members are competent and maintain the correct skills expected of a strategic procurement team. Management of team members including management of all HR required activity. The Head of Strategic Sourcing is an ambassador for change and transformation and will drive continuous improvements across the Procurement Team. Develop, implement and lead strategic procurement and SRM strategy across designated categories and business divisions that address key business requirements, optimising business alignments and collaboration that drives the global procurement vision using best practice procurement and SRM activity. Contributing to the development and implementation of abrdn’s procurement strategy, standards, tools, procedures. Work closely with the Head of Procurement Compliance & Governance to ensure all group spend is maximised and third-party risk is managed on a group level. Lead, develop and implement innovative procurement solutions to address business requirements and challenges whilst maximising value and ensuring delivery of breakthrough results. When required, lead and manage complex, high value global sourcing initiatives including complex negotiations which are of significant impact to the business, with in-depth legal and senior business management participation Lead and drive engagement with key senior business stakeholders ensuring the procurement strategy supports and addresses their key department objectives and challenges ensuring that the global procurement agenda is a key part of their department strategy Attend Senior Leadership Forums as required by the Head of Source to Pay. Act as a key point of escalation internally and externally. Keep updated in relation to strategic management, SRM and procurement techniques to enable transformation, development and continuous improvement of the Source to Pay Function. Skills and Experience Extensive strategic procurement and supplier relationship management experience in multiple categories. Proven experience of strategic results delivery under pressure. Strong Experience of successfully leading a team within a strategic procurement function and demonstrating strong management and organisational skills along with the ability to develop the function, and individual members within the team. Experience of operating successfully at a senior management level preferable within a complex, pan-global business. Technologically literate – proven ability to optimise results by using sourcing tools & technology and automated processes. Financially literate – able to understand profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and the impact of cash flow. Strong supplier management skills and a high level of ability to negotiate and influence at all levels. High level of ‘ownership’ with an ability to think creatively, innovate, constructively challenge the status quo and see the wider picture developing innovative solutions to business problems weighing up cost versus risk. Excellent engagement skills managing stakeholders at a senior and C suite level with the ability to market the services provided by procurement successfully to drive engagement. Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate at all levels. Highly motivated, confident, credible and trustworthy with a strong sense of integrity We are proud to announce that we have officially become a Disability Confident Committed – Level One employer. Therefore, if you have a disability and would like to submit an application to one of our UK roles under the Disability Confident Scheme, please notify us by completing the relevant section in our candidate questionnaire and one of our team will reach out to support you through your application process. Our Benefits There's more to working life than coming home with a good salary. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported. When you join us, your reward will be one of the best around, including 40 days annual leave, a 16% employer pension contribution, a discretionary performance-based bonus (where applicable), private healthcare and a range of flexible benefits including gym discounts, season ticket loans and access to an employee discount site amongst many others. You can read more about our benefits here. We’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where all forms of difference are valued and which is free from any form of unfair or unlawful treatment. We define diversity in its broadest sense – this includes but is not limited to our diversity of educational and professional backgrounds, experience, cognitive and neurodiversity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief and ethnicity and geographical provenance. We support a culture that values meritocracy, fairness and transparency and welcomes enquiries from everyone. If you need assistance or an adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist. At abrdn, our purpose is to enable our clients to be better investors. abrdn plc manages and administers £496 billion of assets for clients, and has over 1 million shareholders (as of 30th June 2023). Our business is structured around three vectors – Investments, Adviser and Personal – focused on the changing needs of our clients. Across markets globally, we build investment solutions to enable clients to create more opportunities for their futures. Our platform technology and tools help UK wealth managers and financial advisers create more opportunities for their clients and their businesses. Our personal wealth business offers tailored services to help individuals in the UK create financially secure futures in a way that works for them. abrdn.com