Strategic Sourcing Analyst jobs
Driving down costs of procurement will always be a key part of increasing profits, and long-term solutions need to be found to making it happen. The strategic sourcing analyst will usually be employed by larger companies with multimillion pound turnovers and a wealth of data to draw on. At this scale, seemingly tiny changes in sourcing strategy can be converted into hundreds of thousands in savings once implemented.
The role will involve a good deal of data analysis, with the analyst looking deeply into every aspect of the company’s sourcing and identifying savings or flagging up areas where there is the potential for saving, for example renegotiating contracts with certain suppliers or seeking the change suppliers. The successful strategic sourcing analyst will be a creative thinker who can come up with non-direct ways of making savings.
Because strategic sourcing takes place over the longer term, short-term gains might often prove not to be economically optimal, for example if they tie the client into contracts that could have been negotiated more advantageously if a guarantee of future custom could have been written in.
The analyst will also have to present his or her conclusions and recommendations to the board in order for them to be made company policy. There will then follow a stage of follow-up analysis to check the performance of the changes.
The skills required
A good head for figures will be a key requirement for this role. It’s possible that several strands of negotiations could be going on simultaneously, with an optimum solution being concealed within them. Someone mathematically astute enough to have an instinct for finding the best deals and having their suspicions backed up by computerised analysis could be the ideal candidate, although such people could be few and far between!
Much of the work will involve meeting with other departments of the company and also with suppliers and those tendering for supply contracts, so someone who is at ease talking business and negotiating on the company’s behalf will be well suited to the role.
Needless to say, this will require superb communication skills, and an ability to think on one’s feet whilst being armed with a thorough knowledge of the employer’s strategic aims.
Strategic Sourcing Analyst Jobs in Guildford
Located 26 miles (46 km) south west of the centre of London , Surrey's county town Guildford is a historic setting in England's South. For a time, between the 10th and the 13th centuries the Royal Mint was located here, and that's not the town's only association with precious things – the “Guild” part of its name relates to gold. Guildford's castle was built during this time, too.
Guildford was one of the first towns to have a canal dug through it, in the mid-1600s, about 100 years before the national boom in canals. Named the Wey Navigation, it linked directly to the River Thames to allow the fast transportation of heavy goods to and from the capital. Although the town has never been the location of heavy industry, it has always been a good place to do business, and that is certainly true today, with several international companies having offices or head offices there. The list includes Philips Electronics, Colgate-Palmolive, Ericsson, Allianz, Electronic Arts and Sanofi. Since EA is not the only major video game producer in town, Guildford has something of a reputation of being an entertainment software capital.
Guildford is a reasonably affluent town and is a firm favourite among London's commuters who still want to live in a thriving town with plenty going on. Its population is around 70,000, and there are places such as the Surrey Research Park with plenty of exciting innovations being developed. Despite the lack of heavy industry, Strategic Sourcing Analyst positions do come up in Guildford, and we're best placed to locate them when they arise.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK is growing in the UK logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment industry, partly because these are the only sectors we deal with. People approach us for many reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide.
Our founder members and consultants all come from these sectors, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. As we only deal with these fields, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’re tightly focused on delivering the best people to them.
Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the ideal position for you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Strategic Sourcing Analyst for your business or find you a job as a Strategic Sourcing Analyst then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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