Procurement Operations Manager

The Procurement Operations Manager is the operational backbone of the procurement function, owning the day-to-day running of the buyer team, including workload management, SLA compliance, process governance and systems performance. This role reports to the Procurement Manager and leads category buyers and a procurement analyst, acting as the primary escalation point for operational issues. The successful candidate will also drive the team's readiness for ERP migration and AI-assisted automation.

Our client is a leading global software company serving the insurance industry with intelligent core-system solutions. With a large international customer base and operations across more than 30 countries, it helps insurers modernise their systems and accelerate digital transformation. Its procurement function is run as a strategic business partner rather than a purely transactional team.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of buyers and a procurement analyst, including workload distribution, capacity planning and SLA performance
• Drive buyer performance management, onboarding and operational coaching across all spend categories
• Serve as the primary escalation point for urgent purchase requests, vendor disputes and operational exceptions
• Own P2P workflow configuration on ServiceNow, including approval routing, queue management and policy compliance
• Define and enforce one consistent procurement process, maintaining SOPs, escalation paths and buyer playbooks
• Lead the team's operational readiness for an ERP migration, including workflow mapping, category taxonomy alignment and training
• Identify and implement automation and AI-assisted tooling opportunities within buyer workflows
• Partner with Finance on PO reconciliation, budget compliance and month-end close support
• Provide operational data, KPI dashboards and savings tracking to support strategic reporting

Requirements

• 8-12 years in procurement operations, purchasing or supply chain management within a technology or enterprise software company
• Proven experience managing a buyer team, including workload distribution, SLA ownership and performance management
• Strong command of P2P systems such as ServiceNow, SAP or equivalent ERP/procurement platforms
• Process governance mindset with experience defining and enforcing procurement policies across a multi-buyer team
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and operational escalations in a fast-moving environment
• Strong communication skills and comfort working across Finance, IT, R&D and senior stakeholders
• Fluent English
• Preferred: experience in an ERP migration (Dynamics 365, SAP S/4HANA or equivalent), AI tools applied to procurement, Software Asset Management or technology procurement operations, and a CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification

Skills

Procurement operations, Purchasing / supply chain management in technology or enterprise software, Buyer team management (workload distribution, SLA ownership, performance management), P2P systems (ServiceNow, SAP, or equivalent ERP/procurement platforms), Process governance and procurement policy enforcement, Managing competing priorities and operational escalations, Stakeholder communication across Finance, IT, R&D and senior leadership, ERP migration experience (Dynamics 365, SAP S/4HANA, or equivalent), AI tools applied to procurement workflows (contract review, spend analytics, RFP drafting), Software Asset Management or technology procurement operations, CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification