Sourcing Manager

Get AI‑powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

In your role as Sourcing Manager, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to work closely with the Category Manager and head of procurement, the key focus of the role is to deliver the procurement strategies for USS across various categories.

Supporting the category managers to work with key stakeholders, to implement best practise, create commercial benefits and reduce risks for the business.

As a trusted part of the Finance team you will:

• Deliver category supplier strategies and roadmaps via sourcing processes such as RFPs, RFIs and mid‑term negotiations.
• Manage the delivery of RFPs, ensuring robust requirements, supplier selection and project management.
• Deliver strategic procurement strategies to optimise costs and enhance supplier relationships in line with the overall procurement strategy, business strategy and USS strategy
• Deliver the procurement cycle through sourcing to contract drafting. Drive projects through to completion, managing risks and timelines.
• Secure best value and maximising economies of scale from supplier expenditure.
• Work with internal stakeholders to review and negotiate renewals, providing commercial support as required.
• Manage and influence key internal stakeholders across the business, building collaborative relationships to give the procurement agenda credibility and visibility across the business.
• Ensure compliance with company guidelines by adoption of best in class procurement practices.

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Strong stakeholder management experience, a confident communicator who can engage effectively and influence stakeholders and suppliers at all levels.
• Commercially focused experience with evidence of maximising value for money and cost reduction, confident negotiator
• Strong experience of running RFPs in multi‑categories, including IT
• Contract and supplier management experience, including a strong commercial focus and robust negotiation skills
• Dynamic, forward‑thinking self‑starter who can drive performance and best‑practice procurement within a changing and evolving environment.
• Takes initiative and has ownership of situations – a strong level of personal resilience, adaptable to change, with a growth mindset
• CIPS - MCIPS qualification (or equivalent) or working towards desirable

• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was…