Procurement & Sourcing Expert (#617)

Lead and drive impactful strategic procurement and sourcing initiatives to achieve targeted procurement savings, optimize supplier value, and continuously improve procurement processes. The role will identify and analyze procurement opportunities through effective collaboration with internal stakeholders and external business partners. In addition, the role will contribute to the continuous development and efficiency of the Procurement & Sourcing team by providing professional guidance, fostering effective teamwork, and promoting innovative approaches to increase the team’s overall contribution. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, proactively support the Procurement Sourcing Manager, and help build a high-performing, collaborative team culture.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement & Sourcing

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and deliver agreed procurement savings and value-generation targets.
• Analyze spend, supplier markets, business requirements, and procurement opportunities to identify cost optimization and efficiency improvements.
• Develop and implement category and sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead complex supplier negotiations, commercial evaluations, and contract discussions.
• Manage supplier performance, relationships, risks, and opportunities to ensure sustainable business value.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives across procurement processes, policies, and ways of working.
• Build effective partnerships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to maximize procurement outcomes.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide professional guidance, coaching, and support to Procurement & Sourcing team members.
• Support the Procurement Sourcing Manager in improving team engagement, effectiveness, and overall performance.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of a seven-person procurement team.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and effective teamwork across the team and wider organization.
• Provide guidance and support to team members when required, helping them address challenges and develop their capabilities.
• Introduce creative ideas and practical solutions to enhance the team’s contribution and efficiency.
• Demonstrate proactive leadership in building a positive, accountable, and high-performing team environment.

Stakeholder & Business Partnership

• Develop strong relationships with senior stakeholders and business partners across the organization.
• Influence stakeholders and provide professional procurement advice to support effective business decisions.
• Act as a trusted procurement partner by balancing cost, quality, risk, service, and business requirements.
• Communicate procurement strategies, recommendations, and results clearly to senior management and key stakeholders.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of professional experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or a related field.
• Strong experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, and procurement transformation.
• Ideally, 5+ years of experience within the financial services industry or a similarly complex, highly regulated environment.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams, projects, or major cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven track record of delivering procurement savings and measurable business value.
• Strong analytical skills, including spend analysis, market analysis, opportunity assessment, and development of sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiations, contract management, supplier performance management, and supplier risk management.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with experience coaching, guiding, or developing team members.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to develop creative and practical solutions.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification required.
• Business-level Japanese and English communication skills required, both written and verbal.
• MBA, CIPS, or other relevant professional procurement qualification is preferred.