Esourcing Specialist

What you’ll be responsible for

1. Coordinate and support day-to-day catalogue buying activity, helping to increase adoption and maximise value from catalogue-based purchasing solutions.


2. Work collaboratively with Procurement colleagues and business stakeholders to assess requirements and identify the most appropriate compliant purchasing route and buying channel, supporting increased utilisation of catalogue solutions.


3. Support the delivery and coordination of call-off activity from existing frameworks, including lower-value RFQs, spot buys and mini-competitions within agreed thresholds and delegated authority, ensuring compliance, governance and value for money.


4. Manage the governance and continuous improvement of eCatalogues and purchasing channels, maintaining standards for catalogue content quality, accessibility and user experience. Coordinate supplier onboarding and internal approvals, while supporting improvements in compliance, coverage, accuracy and ease of use.


5. Maintain eSourcing catalogues, controls, templates and process guidance, ensuring purchasing activity is appropriately documented and supporting periodic reviews to encourage effective use across the organisation.


6. Support the accuracy and completeness of catalogue information and master data, contributing to data quality improvements and agreed standards that enable reliable reporting, audit and management information.


7. Act as a key point of contact for catalogue-related queries, providing guidance and practical support to users on purchasing routes, processes and systems. Assist in resolving operational issues and escalate risks, non-compliance concerns or system defects as appropriate, ensuring actions are monitored through to completion.


8. Promote continuous improvement in catalogue and eSourcing adoption, compliance and service performance, working closely with colleagues across the Centralised Buying Team and wider Procurement function to identify priorities, implement improvements and embed effective purchasing practices.


9. Produce, analyse and interpret eCatalogue and eProcurement performance information, including compliance, cycle times, catalogue utilisation, exception rates and data quality measures. Work with Commercial Intelligence colleagues to validate data and translate insights into service improvements, recommendations and stakeholder communications.

About you

The following are essential requirements for the recruitment of the role:

Qualifications

• Educated to A-Level, NVQ Level 3, or equivalent, or able to demonstrate relevant experience within a purchasing, procurement or commercial support environment.


• Degree-level qualification, or an equivalent professional qualification, in Procurement, Commercial Management, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.

Experience

• Experience coordinating catalogue activity and supporting purchasing, procurement or commercial processes.


• Experience working with eProcurement systems and purchasing processes, including requisition triage, workflow and approval processes, RFQs, call-offs and eCatalogue or guided-buying solutions.


• Experience working within a process-led environment, applying established procedures, controls and service standards, while identifying and escalating risks, compliance concerns or exceptions where appropriate.


• Experience supporting spot buying, lower-value sourcing activities or tactical procurement exercises, using appropriate purchasing routes and maintaining accurate records and controls.


• Good working knowledge of eProcurement or purchasing systems (such as Ariba, SRM or similar), including requisition-to-order processes, eCatalogue purchasing, workflow approvals and data quality management.

Knowledge & Skills

• Good understanding of purchasing and procurement principles, including selecting appropriate purchasing routes and buying channels for lower-value and lower-risk requirements.


• Working knowledge of requisition-to-order and transactional purchasing processes, including RFQs, call-offs, workflow approvals and eCatalogue purchasing.


• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with ownership of record keeping standards, data quality and audit trails within eProcurement systems ensuring delivery of increased catalogues and easier ways to procure including tail spend and procurement cards. 


• Ability to work within established policies, procedures and controls, applying sound judgement to identify exceptions, risks and opportunities for improvement, and escalating matters when required.


• Understanding of procurement governance, delegated authority and decision-making frameworks, with the ability to operate effectively within agreed responsibilities and seek guidance where appropriate.


• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance, share knowledge and support colleagues in the effective use of eCatalogue and procurement processes.


• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment, adapting to changing business priorities whilst maintaining service standards, accuracy and compliance.


• Comfortable using data and management information to identify trends, inform decision-making and support continuous improvement activities.

Good to know

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact: [email protected] and enter the job ID in the subject title line. 

Please note, we may close this role sooner if required. We may also extend the original closing date depending on interest.

Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business. For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.

Benefits

As well as a market competitive salary, 34 days annual leave (pro rata, 26 days + 8 public holiday days), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

•             Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)

•             Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year

•             Enhanced employer pension contributions – Up to 11% employer contributions

•             Free Mortgage Brokering Services 

•             Enhanced family friendly policies

•             Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes

•             Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping

•             Cycle to work scheme

•             Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops

•             Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites

•             Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service

•             An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family

•             Many more can be found on our website!