Buyer - IT

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. Our strategy begins with a purpose that places consumers at the heart of everything we do: Brighten everyday life for all. Our goal is to deliver best-in-class performance with market-making, unmissably superior brands. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our collaborative, and flexible working environment. Our organizational ambition centers around creating workplaces that foster equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all aspects of our business. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT PROCUREMENT

Part of the Supply Chain family, Procurement is responsible for over 30B Euro of material and services spend globally with more than 60,000 suppliers. Getting the right services and materials, sustainably sourced and ensuring responsible procurement is critical to ensuring our brands with purpose grow. Our teams work closely with the business to understand stakeholders needs, bring innovation to meet changing consumer, employees and customers needs, and drive financial value for Unilever through competitive buying. We’re at the forefront of digital procurement, bringing new tools and analytics to drive data-based decisions. Our strategy is ‘Procurement with Purpose’ and focuses on buying responsibly, buying better, and growing together with partners around the world. Our ambition is based on three key drivers: being Purpose-Led, Value-Driven, and Future-Fit.

JOB PURPOSE:

This role will be a part of the Unilever’s Global Procurement team supporting the Technology (IT) Procurement.

To lead regional and global strategic IT sourcing activities for Unilever’s Business Group led key markets (UK, Ireland, Germany) in the areas of spend management by developing and implementing sourcing strategies, defining and clarifying internal customer needs with insight of supply markets and sharing best practices.

This role will activate and enable supplier selection process, negotiating favourable terms and conditions for Unilever in collaboration with Unilever’s globally designated partners, facilitating supplier onboarding and perform ongoing strategic supplier relationship management , supplier performance management, risk mitigation and issue resolution via proactive involvement and collaboration with stakeholders on various projects and initiatives by supporting and aligning efforts to meet internal customer and business needs within budgets and targets.

Role manages the end-to-end procurement process for IT products and services with key focus on IT Services sourcing for the geographical cluster and is responsible to support the roll-out and ensure compliance to global standards, company policies and procedures, contract governance and controls.

In addition, support Global Procurement IT team in developing global sourcing strategies and their implementation and also drive Global Procurement IT KPIs in the cluster and their monitoring and reporting.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE:

• Responsible for leading sourcing projects in line with the IT strategy and wider Unilever business goals

• Collaborate with stakeholders and lead sourcing activities for the projects of the assigned categories and key markets

• Partnering and managing suppliers

• Work within defined Procurement Ways of Working and always adhere to the Code of Business Principles.

• Manage outsourcing relationships in MBS Procurement - IT

• Work in an effective, cohesive team environment

• Support implementation of global projects in the clusters.

• Ensure projects are in line with the MBS Minimum Standards, Procurement Ways of Working and Unilever Responsible Partner Policy.

• Awareness and understanding of local laws and legislation particularly when delivering projects is essential to mitigate risk to Unilever.

• Flexibility to travel as and when required.

• Analyse market trends, benchmark pricing and supplier landscapes to identify opportunities for cost savings, risk mitigation, and innovation.

•  Lead supplier performance management, including setting KPIs, conducting regular reviews, and managing contracts.

• Continuously assess and improve procurement processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Strategy supporting and execution

• Identify, facilitate, and deliver benefits through strategic sourcing / e - sourcing / demand management / vendor relationship management / value optimisation techniques working in tandem with the concerned stakeholder/s (Global and Local IT Teams)

• Identify the optimum supplier relationships for the organisation, negotiate value driven agreements that are in line with defined commercial and legal requirements and subsequently manage the supplier relationships/SLA’s along with the stakeholders

• Achieving savings/cash targets through defined methodologies, tracking and reporting on these financial targets to relevant stakeholders

• Achieve defined global and local targets including savings, cash improvement, Preferred Supplier List, vendor rationalization, digital procurement, catalogue, PO penetration.

• Implement the global strategic sourcing processes through CPM (Collaborative Procurement Model)

• Manage outsourcing relationships in MBS Procurement – IT

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in strategic procurement - IT

• Strong knowledge and experience in IT Procurement particular in software sourcing

• Strong commercial negotiation and contracting skills

• Strong Project Management Skills

• Track record of building stakeholder relationships across diverse stakeholder groups and geographic locations

• Strong analytical and numeracy skills

• Skilled in delivering challenging savings and cash targets

• Ability to understand Procurement workflow

• A skilled negotiator

• Excellent in English

• Strong experience in supplier management

• Proven in driving commercial value in a Procurement function

• Bring Procurement value to the stakeholders and influence to change

• Champion digital Procurement in collaboration with stakeholders

• Candidate must have high level of commercial acumen

• Candidate must have significant experience in supply management to strategize, influence and execute the suppliers in the best interest of Unilever in alignment with procurement processes and expectations

• Proficient in Microsoft Office

• Adapting to competing demands, organizational changes, and new responsibilities.

PREFERRED

• Exposure to sourcing tools like Coupa, eAuctions and other automation tools

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification

• Studying towards or achieved a recognised Procurement certification

LEADERSHIP:

· You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

· As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviours

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.

• CONSUMER & CUSTOMER LOVE: Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.

• PURPOSEFUL IMPACT: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever. 

• AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.

• TALENT CATALYST: Inspire people to grow, with support and honesty.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Hybrid work and flexibility.

• Opportunities for the development and improvement of qualifications.

• Sharing the cost of professional training & courses.

• Benefits: life insurance, private medical care, pension fund, sharing the cost of sports activities, Benefits System – Cafeteria and many others.

• Extra days off to take care of yourself and others.

• Unilever store - Our products at attractive prices.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.