Sourcing Category Manager - IT (Software, Hardware and Networks) at Nomura

Role responsibilities

Working as part of a Category team that operates as part of an overall Group Hardware & Networks team. Making an ongoing, tangible contribution to cost efficiency and commercial/contractual risk management, through:

• Supporting the Global Sourcing Category Lead – Hardware & Networks in developing the overall spend category strategy in partnership with key stakeholders and managing the effective delivery of that strategy
• The role will also support software and cloud related activities, including Cyber / Information Security
• Managing and/or providing oversight to category-wide efficiency and governance initiatives
• Effective management and delivery of new deals and renewals, including:
  • Influencing the adoption of appropriate sourcing strategies and activities
  • Leading RFPs and renewals, including complex and high-profile commercial/contractual negotiations
  • Significant interaction with senior internal clients and senior representatives from external vendors
  • Creating and presenting impactful deal summaries/recommendations
  • Working as part of cross-functional and cross-regional teams
  • Maintaining deal pipelines
• Providing a commercial advisory service to key stakeholders
• Meeting or exceeding a range of financial and non-financial performance targets
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with stakeholders
• Build strong supplier relationships and supplier management programmes; driving initiatives with suppliers in co-ordination with the business and corporate functions
• Supporting the ongoing development of Nomura’s Group Sourcing function
• Where applicable, supporting the execution of Business Continuity plans and pro-active operational risk management
• Supporting software and cloud-based agreements, as required for cross functional projects

Skills, experience, qualifications and knowledge required

• Degree level qualification or equivalent
• CIPS or other professional Sourcing/Procurement qualification desirable
• Several years of experience of sourcing the relevant spend categories in a blue-chip environment, with a proven track record of successfully leading commercial and contract activities, including:
  • Supporting in the development and maintenance of strategic Category-wide plans and initiatives in conjunction with stakeholders
  • Portfolio opportunity analysis and subsequent benefit delivery
  • Effectively influencing the sourcing strategy for individual projects
  • Leading internal/market analysis, competitive bidding and negotiation activities for regional and global agreements, with a range of value and complexity
  • Re-negotiation and value extraction from embedded legacy / incumbent suppliers
  • Knowledge of the pricing and contracting mechanisms for global enterprise level suppliers
  • Excellent understanding of commercial levers and legal terms and conditions relating to Software contracts
  • Knowledge of supply market, supplier capabilities, and expected trends at a geographic and global level
  • Experience of negotiating international hardware and network related agreements with a wide range of vendors, including the likes of Cisco, HPE, Hitachi, BT, F5, Crowdstrike, RSA.
  • Experience in Software, Cloud and Cyber / Information Security categories (e.g. licensing methodologies, IaaS, PaaS)
  • Experience in technologies topics related to market and vendor convergence
• Experience in a Banking environment may be an advantage, but is not essential
• Staff management experience essential and cross-regional team experience an advantage
• Ability to motivate, organise and develop team members
• Strong and experienced commercial and contract negotiator
• Is highly credible, an effective communicator (written and verbal) and is able to influence senior external vendors and senior internal clients
• Self-starter who can work with minimal supervision and manage a large volume of projects
• Can contribute effectively to and/or co-ordinate cross-functional teams
• Can drive projects to a conclusion while maintaining a high quality of task delivery