This is a senior role responsible for supporting strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and procurement optimization efforts across a broad range of spend categories. This role serves as a trusted advisor to the business, partnering across the organization to deliver value through cost savings, supplier performance improvements, risk mitigation, and operational efficiencies.
What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs.
Join us and play your part in something special!
The opportunity:
The International Procurement Lead will play an integral role in developing, driving, and supporting Markel International’s indirect spend category strategies valued in excess of £80M in spend.
You will collaborate closely with business leaders, Legal, Finance, Information Security, IT, and external suppliers to support procurement strategies and sourcing activities that align with organizational objectives. We require strong commercial competence, analytical capabilities, and expertise in technology sourcing, contract management, and supplier management.
What you’ll be doing:
- Handle / lead complex strategic sourcing efforts / contract negotiations
- Develop and drive category strategies by partnering with INTL leadership and key business units to develop long term supplier strategies
- Consult with business leaders in identifying business and vendor needs to deliver categories strategies, increase vendor performance, reduce costs and reduce risk.
- Lead key strategic supplier quarterly and annual business reviews
- Strategically mange indirect spend using sourcing processes that engages stakeholders in developing business requirements, aligns business objectives and ensures supplier performance
- Be responsible for the life cycle of strategic suppliers to include but not be limited to: evaluation, selection, and governance to ensure service delivery & quality, relevance, and commercial value
- Develop, align and implement critical metrics in support of handling strategic supplier relationships in line with organizational requirements and processes to achieve exceptional levels of quality and service while maintaining competitive pricing structure
- Conduct market research, supplier assessments, and benchmarking activities to support informed procurement decisions.
- Evaluates supplier risks and ensures appropriate due diligence activities are completed.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure suppliers meet contractual commitments, performance expectations, and business objectives.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to identify and address operational, financial, security, privacy, and regulatory risks associated with third-party relationships.
- Develop business cases and recommendations that balance cost, value, risk, and operational requirements.
Our must-haves:
- International global procurement experience to include knowledge of regulatory requirements
- Experience in negotiating and leading technology agreements, including: (SaaS agreements, Software licensing, Cloud services, Professional services and Statements of Work (SOWs)
- Proficiency in the use of AI-enabled tools and solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, reporting, and procurement processes.
- Project management skills and knowledge of sourcing practices to handle complex projects
- Extensive knowledge of legal contracts and financial disciplines.
- Strong understanding of procurement guidelines, supplier management, and category management principles.
- Knowledge of modern sourcing and procurement systems.
- Proficiency with procurement technologies, reporting tools, and data analysis.
- Ability to handle multiple projects at a time and often under tight timeframes
Who we are:
Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.
We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better | We enjoy the everyday | We think further
What’s in it for you?
- A great starting salary plus annual bonus & strong benefits package…
- 25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays, with the opportunity to buy/sell extra leave
- Fantastic company pension scheme, private medical and dental cover, life assurance, travel insurance cover, income protection, season ticket loan as well as other great benefits on offer
- There are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career and we can provide the support needed to do just that!
Are you ready to play your part?
Choose ‘Apply Now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you.
Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.
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