The posting
Job Title: Procurement Specialist
Location: London/Hybrid (Typically 2/3 days in the office)
Type: Full time – Permanent (If you are a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please do still get in touch)
At Ardonagh Specialty, we provide much more than just a workplace. We are dedicated to fostering skill development and knowledge within a team that is passionate about their work, values their Employees, and truly celebrates diversity.
Working at Ardonagh Specialty means you’ll be part of The Ardonagh Group. We are proud of our innovative environment offering many opportunities for growth across the wider group. Employees regularly move between our united teams, and we encourage you to make your role your own.
Our offices are lively and exciting places to be, but we understand that life needs flexibility, and offer a genuinely flexible approach to working. If you are looking to join a thriving, energetic business with exciting plans, this role could be an ideal fit for you.
What we can offer:
We offer much more than just an inclusive culture with apprenticeships, study support, participation in our annual Spotlight Awards, Community Trust, Sports Teams, office socials, events and so much more. All of this with a supportive management team as well as working alongside some of the industry’s top talent.
You’ll have access to wellbeing programs, fantastic discounts across many big-name businesses including supermarkets, gym memberships, restaurants, and healthcare cash plans etc.
Further perks of working with us (Fixed benefits):
- Employer pension contribution of 10% (providing you, the Employee provides 5%).
- Good work life balance - flexibility to suit you.
- Competitive salary.
- Life Assurance at X4 of your base salary.
- Group Income Protection.
- Generous Annual Leave entitlement.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Group annual bonus scheme.
Purpose of the Role:
The procurement department is responsible for the control and oversight of over £70m worth of spend on suppliers for Ardonagh Specialty Limited (also wider Group). The purpose of this role in the wider Procurement Function is to provide operational support to the Procurement Department to; increase compliance with procurement policy and processes in key areas of the business and ensuring effective spend against the balance of risk on the suppliers of services and goods.
Key Role Accountabilities:
The Procurement team are responsible for providing support, advice, and assistance to other departments in its purchasing and procurement activities, whilst ensuring all purchasers use approved suppliers and follow correct processes. The role requires assisting Ardonagh Specialty Ltd (plus wider Group) in understanding where the company is spending its money, to make the company more efficient, achieve value for money and ultimately save money in future years. The role requires UK travel as and when required and will be required to working alone, managing own tasks under the broad framework set by the manager. The role will align to the strategic direction of the procurement function as well as providing support to the COO. The following are key areas of the role:
Contract Management System (“CMS”)
- The operation of ensuring Supplier contracts are correctly stored with all associated Meta Data to ensure effective management and governance.
- Testing system updates
- Reporting on supplier data to manage accuracy, governance activities, risk management and renewal pipeline.
Procuring Goods and Services
- Supporting the delivery of procuring/renewing new goods and services in establishing cost effective contracts for the Company from renewals to RFI’s and RFP’s.
- The management of specific suppliers owned by Procurement.
- Supporting Merger and Acquisition activity relating to Supplier Contracts
- Supporting any supplier contract termination and renewal activities
General
- The production of Management Information on which business decisions can be made.
- Provide support and guidance to members of the Procurement and wider teams
- Supporting the maintenance of Procurement Standard Operating Procedures, Work Procedures and Templates
- General support as required by the Procurement Manager
- Identify and implement cost saving opportunities
- Providing support and direction to the business segments in all matters Procurement
- Undertake annual attestations of the SOP’s and procedures
- Mitigating and managing risk.
Day to Day Tasks Involved:
Working autonomously the following will be performed in the day to day activities:
- Full ownership & Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the contract management system (CMS).
- Maintain tools used within the Procurement function such as the Contract Management (CMS) systems, due diligence software and contract management database.
- Working with the business areas to identify purchasing requirements and working within the Procurement Frameworks whilst following the Procurement Standard Operating Processes to procure goods and services.
- Understanding how suppliers are categorised in the purchasing system and its importance to Ardonagh Specialty Ltd.
- Managing supplier relationship activities in line with Supplier Management Framework.
- Advising the business on what due diligence and undertaking DD activities are required surrounding purchases.
- Highlighting key suppliers risks and capturing them within the aligned CMS and framework process.
- Creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in line with company policy.
- Lead on projects to achieve goals & meet success criteria (Project Management).
- Finding ways to automate certain processes to aid to productivity & performance.
- Cover Procurement activities for annual leave/sick leave.
- Chairing regular meetings with key stakeholders.
- Emailing internal customers to help improve compliance with Ardonagh’s procurement processes.
- Understanding & following procurement policies & procedures
- Pre RFP supplier meetings.
- Coordinate and resolve the Ardonagh Specialty procurement inbox queries.
- Provide system administration and management of credit and Sanctions checking systems, such as Dun & Bradstreet.
- Writing and maintaining working instructions in conjunction with the procurement team.
- Assess business needs by coordinating and prioritising own workload to meet deadlines and ensure efficiency of the business.
- Coaching and guiding other members of the team, and support all members of the wider team
- CPD for career progression in becoming a Procurement professional
- Develop and undertake review of procedures which are used within the Procurement department and external processes
- Understanding the broader controls processes that impact Procurement including, but not limited to; Delegate Authority, Authorised Signatures, the Ardonagh Accountability Framework, etc.
- Manage contract negotiations and internal approval process
- Undertaking supplier governance review meetings and aligning business owner in line with SRM Framework.
Key Role Accountabilities
- Functional Knowledge/ technical knowledge
- Good analytical skills with close attention to detail.
- Good IT skills particularly in Excel, Microsoft Word, and Outlook.
- Good understanding and experience of managing IT Software and Services supplier contracts
- Writing of RFP’s/RFI’s for product and services.
- Understand and interpret information.
- Understanding of Legal needs and requirements in contracts
- Risk Management
- Regulated requirements of the FCA and ICO impacting the Ardonagh Specialty platform and wider Group
- Business Expertise
- Effective written and oral communication skills.
- Coordinate and prioritise own workload to work independently.
- Ability to build and manage strong relationships internally and externally.
- Driving continuous improvement and innovation.
- Able to investigate the root cause of a problem and rectify it as required.
- Building self-insight & relationships
- Strong relationships with onshore and offshore teams.
- Build and maintain relationships with senior internal stakeholders.
- Excellent team working and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to adopt a systematic approach to tasks and to work within set processes.
- All round team player and proactive.
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
- Negotiation skills
Think you don’t meet every requirement?
We are an equal opportunities Employer, dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can thrive, bring their whole self to work, and reach their full potential. If you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t perfectly match what we are looking for, please apply anyway. You might just be the right fit for the job, or other opportunities we may have within the wider Group.
Interview Process: At Ardonagh Specialty, we have a straightforward interview process to ensure the best fit for both you and the company:
- Submit your application with your CV, emphasising your skills and experience related to the job.
- Our Talent Acquisition team will then arrange a call where they can tell you more about the role and the team. We want to learn about your motivation and goals, what you can bring to Ardonagh Specialty, and answer any immediate questions.
- If successful, you will generally be invited to engage in a 1-hour interview with the Hiring Manager and selected team members, via teams or in person. We will discuss our technologies, key skills, and team dynamics and provide further opportunity to ask any questions. This is your chance to voice your thoughts on the role and we will outline our expectations and ensure this role aligns with your ambitions for the future.
- Depending on the role, you may be invited to attend a second stage interview with further members of the team.
If successful or unsuccessful, we always try and move quickly in presenting an offer or providing feedback.
We truly value the diversity of our teams and as a Group, we are committed to supporting and welcoming individuals from all backgrounds, as we appreciate every perspective is a significant part of our success. Should you require any reasonable adjustment throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let a member of the Talent team know.
#AS
If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history, and a standard criminal record check.
Note to recruiters and employment agencies:
We will not pay for unsolicited CV's from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have requested assistance, in writing, for a specific vacancy.
