Tactical Buyer

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

**Job Summary**
- The UK Procurement and Supplier Governance team proactively engage with the business to drive strategy in line with corporate objectives and manage Canada Life’s suppliers to extract maximum value for the organization from existing contracts and relationships.
- The role will need to be able to quickly manage a competitive tendering process with our preferred and potentially new suppliers, whilst working with the business requestors to accurately document specifications/project briefs and drive a behavioural change to ensure competitive bidding and outcome-based statement of works whilst managing the third parties during the quote and award process.
- You will liaise with key business stakeholders across Canada Life to ensure favourable commercial terms which mitigate business risk, deliver the required business outcomes whilst delivering value for money and culturing an environment for supplier innovation.
- The role will support Canada Life Business Leaders, Contract Owners and requestors for related services. You will support key stakeholders by leading and executing competitive events according to business policy and agreed timelines.
- The Tactical Buyer will have the skills to use competitor and industry knowledge to drive innovation and commercial value to Canada Life and ensure end to end tendering cycle visibility, creating line of sight on demand, cost, service and risk through proactive planning work.

**What You'll Do**
- Lead in the creation and running of competitive sourcing events across various procurement areas of spend (Predominately professional services & consulting) ensuring a competitive advantage and clear outcome-based contracts/SOW’s:

- To challenge the status quo and unpack complex business problems into clear and concise project briefs to drive the most appropriate business outcome at the right price
- Ensure continuous alignment and communication relevant businesses/ functions on event development and decisions
- Lead e-auctions/competitive tendering on behalf of business owners, negotiate commercial terms and mitigate supply risks through to SOW sign off and successful handover to business owners to manage the supplier delivery
- Develop a reputation for delivery that quickly earns credibility in the business community, but also has clear strategic direction to become a trusted advisor to the business users
- To be responsible for identifying new value opportunities and assess their relevance and potential value to the organisation (in conjunction with UK and European/Global framework requirements) which deliver cost savings and value to the business
- To collaborate with the global Procurement teams on Global / European agreements
- Lead the creation and maintenance of pipeline procurement projects (forecast and tracking
- Ensure all records are accurately stored in the relevant Source to pay systems

**Who You Are**

**_Essential_**
- Strong evidence of e-auctioning, sourcing and driving cultural change
- Good communication and influencing skills
- Strong written and verbal communication including presentation skills for engaging stakeholders and making a robust business case for change
- Strong business planning skills, able to drive change
- Strong team player
- Good knowledge of contract law
- Advanced user of MS Word / Excel / Powerpoint / Visio - especially Excel and Powerpoint

**_Desirable_**
- Financial Services experience - knowledge of the regulatory environment
- MCIPS qualified (or studying towards)
- Strong presentation skills for engaging stakeholders and making a robust business case for change

**Qualifications**
- Educated to a degree level or equivalent procurement experience

**Benefits of working at Canada Life**

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development