The Rank Group plc

Purchasing Department

IT -Buyer

Job Description

Job Title

/ IT Buyer

Department

/ Purchasing

Location

/ Maidenhead

Duratione.g. PT, FT, FTC # months

/ Perm

Hours

/ The role holder will be required to work such hours as may be necessary to satisfy the role.

Reports To/Line Manager

/ Purchasing Director and IT Purchasing Manager

Number of Direct Reports

/ None

Budget responsibilities

/ Supporting IT with Opex and Capex expenditure

Date Job Description created

/ November 2015

This job description is subject to periodic review and amendment as necessary

Job Purpose

/ To support the IT Purchasing Manager to ensure value for money in the Group's external spend and deliver real cost savings to the bottom line. Your stakeholders will be the IT team and you'll be joining the business during its biggest IT transformation.
Your core role will be to provide a strong category planning to support the IT function whilst establishing and maintaining appropriate service levels across a range of contracts.
The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing analysis around supplier spend and positioning within the IT categories of spend and to assist in the preparation of the RFP and evaluation process. Contract negotiations are expected to consider the delivery of optimum cost, while minimising commercial risk to the Rank Group with support from the Group Legal function.

Main Accountabilities and Responsibilities

/ Prepare supplier spend analysis to identify spend and risk opportunities
To ensure that procurement plans are established and maintained to assist in IT negotiations.
Support the end users in developing specifications for the products and services for IT assigned categories being sourced whilst challenging requirements based on market knowledge.
Undertake group spend analysis for IT categories to identify new procurement opportunities.
Conduct front end procurement activities, including:
-Market/supplier research
-Supplier evaluation
-Managing the RFP and analysis process
-Establishing selection criteria in conjunction with the IT Purchasing Manager and key stakeholders
Support negotiations and drive selection process:
-Carry out financial checks as appropriate
-Support on contracts, SLAs, KPIs etc.
-Liaise with Group Legal to negotiate supply contracts.
Administer a vendor management process in order to control costs, drive service excellence and mitigate risks.
Support the IT Purchasing Manager to deliver a central point of expertise for all matters relating to procurement of Information Technology.
Maintain operational relationships and collation of supplier information.
As an advocate for the Purchasing Department, adopt a professional approach at all times, promoting the process, procedures and best practice.
Knowledge, Expertise and Qualifications(relating to specialist knowledge and expertise required to undertake the role) / Educated to degree standard or similar level of qualification.
Experience in the procurement of IT related hardware and services.
Ability to develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of the supply market, covering all relevant markets and supplier bases, including the relevant legislation and policies.
Excellent negotiation skills.
Knowledge of contract law, structuring & documentation of agreements.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence internal stakeholders at all levels.
Good team player able to work effectively as part of the Purchasing Team and as part of virtual teams across the Rank Group.
Category experience and an understanding of Information Technology.
Strong analytical skills.