Procurement Specialist

Company: Kantar
Location: Norwalk
Posted on: August 8, 2022

Job Description:

Procurement SpecialistNorwalk, MerrittKantar is the world's leading marketing data and analytics company. We have a complete, unique and rounded understanding of how people think, feel and act; globally and locally in over 90 markets. By combining the deep expertise of our people, our data resources and benchmarks and our innovative analytics and technology, we help our clients understand people and inspire growth.The Procurement Specialist will support best in-class procurement practices across Kantar, reporting to a regional Procurement Manager. You will be managing regional sourcing activities, reporting on KPI and metrics, training, managing communications, and managing stakeholder engagement strategy for procurement and related processes (e.g. Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, procurement policy), support of Governance & Reporting (incl. KPIs) at function level, Training, Knowledge Management, etc. You will be driving these elements according to the blueprint, strategy and development roadmap for the new procurement operating model and the related process and systems landscape to support this in the most efficient and effective way.Core to the position is to facilitate best in class sourcing and successful roll-out of a spend management platform across North America. You will analyze spend and performance data and translate the information into key insights for procurement resources and stakeholders. This will be used as basis to drive change management, continuous improvement, and risk mitigation. You will support the Procurement Managers on delivering the new operating model and deploying best-in-class procurement processes.CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support ongoing sourcing activities and regional category strategies
• Help to define, track and report on performance KPIs across the Kantar Procurement network and internal business units
• Monitor and report on function level KPIs, to be developed in alignment with regional stakeholders
• Become subject matter expert in Coupa and conduct user training as needed
• Facilitate new vendor inquiries
• Triage stakeholder requests for assistance in areas related to procurement.
• Collaborate with stakeholders throughout the procurement process
• Collect and handle comprehensive feedback from procurement practitioners and the business to ensure continuous improvement of the procurement methodologies, tools and templates, and drive best practice
• Support the regional Procurement team to drive achievement of organizational and performance objectives, by identifying opportunities for improvement and development while fostering a high-performance cultureKEY OUTCOMES
  • Support in the adoption of procurement tools and processes into the wider business landscape
  • Own key procurement process and communications within the region to ensure wider business adoption.
  • Executing Kantar's Procurement Excellence responsibilities and objectives as part of Kantar Procurement and the related development roadmap, to drive continuous improvement in procurement related processes and capability
  • Management of a regional deposit of knowledge and technology that enables the Procurement team and related stakeholders to deploy best-in-class procurement process, systems, templates and infrastructure.PERSON SPECIFICATION
    • Ability to think strategically; facilitation, interpersonal and negotiation skills are required. Process oriented and ability to support the Procurement Excellence team in the delivery of its core capabilities.
    • Bachelor's degree required. Candidate must have 3+ years of relevant experience with a strong focus procurement source-to-contract and procure-to-pay end-to-end process and system enablement and sourcing.
    • Ability to collaborate with and influence key stakeholders and business leaders a must. Candidates must possess a thorough knowledge of the global and regional characteristics of the procurement source-to-contract and procure-to-pay end-to-end process and the capability requirements plus related topics and relevant developments.
    • Candidates must also be highly customer service oriented, have proven business partnering ability, possess strong analytic ability, be able to make sound, fact-based business decisions and be systems / technology literate.
    • 3+ years of experience working within a corporate Procurement environment - ideally with international, global experience across procurement source-to-contract and procure-to-pay end-to-end process and system enablement
    • Demonstrated project management experience to support Procurement operations.
    • Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills to support Pipeline prioritisation and resource allocation
    • Demonstrated knowledge in procurement process and systems best practices and their application in a complex and global environment
    • Excellent analytical, presentation, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
    • Proven ability to work in a global setting on multiple locations and with a complex business partner structure
    • A self-starter - Comfortable taking ownership of the full process and systems landscape supporting procurement, without high levels of oversight from CPO
    • Action oriented and solution minded team player with high degree of self-management
    • Ability to complete tasks accurately with strong attention to detail and statistical analysisBenefitsWe provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package, including
      • Extended health, dental, vision care, disability, life insurance
      • EAP (employee assistance program)
      • Wellness account
      • Retirement plan (RRSP/DPSP) with employer match
      • FlexTime Off programAt Kantar we have an integrated way of rewarding our people based around a simple, clear and consistent set of principles. Our approach helps to ensure we are market competitive and to support a pay for performance culture, where your reward and career progression opportunities are linked to what you deliver. We go beyond the obvious, using intelligence, passion and creativity to inspire new thinking and shape the world we live in. Apply for a career that's out of the ordinary and join us. We want to create an equality of opportunity in a fair and supportive working environment where people feel included, accepted, and are allowed to flourish in a space where their mental health and wellbeing is taken into consideration. We want to create a more diverse community to expand our talent pool, be locally representative, drive diversity of thinking and better commercial outcomes.At Kantar, the diversity of our employees provides a richer environment for our employees and broader depth and breadth of thinking for our clients. Kantar is committed to inclusion and diversity; therefore, we welcome applications from all sections of society and do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status or any other legally protected characteristics.PRIVACY DISCLOSURE: Please note that by applying to this opportunity you consent to the personal data you provide to us to be processed and retained by The Kantar Group Limited ("Kantar"). Your details will be kept on our Internal ATS (Applicant Tracking System) for as long as is necessary for the purposes of recruitment, which may include your details being shared with the hiring manager.The salary range for this role in Connecticut is $96,900 - $161,600. Your final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to location, work experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Keywords: Kantar, New England , Procurement Specialist, Other , Norwalk, Northeast