Head of Technology Procurement

At the heart of everything we do is our vision to change lives every day, and our mission to grow The National Lottery responsibly and champion its impact. We are Allwyn UK, part of the Allwyn Entertainment Group – a multi-national lottery operator with a market-leading presence across Europe which includes: Czech Republic, Austria, Greece, Cyprus & Italy, and the US. While the main contribution of The National Lottery to society is through the funds to good causes, at Allwyn we put our purpose and values at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we embark on a once-in-a-lifetime, largescale transformation journey by creating a National Lottery that delivers more money to good causes. We’ll talk a bit more about us further down the page, but for now – let’s talk about the role and who we’re looking for… If you need any assistance or adjustments to this job description or in the application process, please contact a member of the talent team at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help. A bit about the role; The primary responsibility of the Head of Procurement Technology role is to act as the procurement POC to manage the end-to-end procurement process and cultivate strong stakeholder partnerships around the related IT / Technology categories, whilst executing the regional buying strategies of “Sourcing to Contract “for the dedicated category areas, to ensure the effective and quality general procurement service in support of business speed-to-market. This includes driving procurement compliance, managing commercial risk, delivering fair costs for the organization and negotiating regional agreements including prices and terms. In this role, you will be working in a business environment that is fast moving, growth orientated, and constantly changing. The jobholder should be able to embrace ambiguity, meanwhile generating close collaboration across teams and constantly evolving procurement approaches that fully address procurement challenges and solve complex business problems. To succeed in this role, you will have positive energy and be able to work in a greenfield environment where process and policy is not quite defined yet. You will have strong stakeholder engagement skills to deal with challenging users. It is also expected that the jobholder will be able to interact closely with cross-function teams and build effective relationships with the key stakeholders at all levels. The successful candidate should lead upcoming IT / Technology projects - both of which present 'greenfield' opportunities for procurement. The core purpose of the role is to deliver value for Just by being a trusted business partner, developing a deep understanding of the IT / Technology and Professional Services supply base, capitalising on opportunities to control external costs and mitigate supply chain risk. What you’ll be doing; Understand and capture the detailed requirements of each business objective, requiring third party contracting Work cross functionally to ensure all relevant stakeholders feed in requirements and are part of the selection Work to award and appoint new suppliers Support the Director of Social Value and Net Zero Strategy & Policy in maintaining a positive and collaborative culture across the wider teamLiaise with key stakeholders to understand business needs, cost saving opportunities, deliver effective demand management and address third party risk management (TPRM) matters Support category activity by providing analysis, category and supply market expertise and knowledge to deliver sourcing opportunities Lead and manage end to end strategic and tactical sourcing projects across IT / Technology and Professional Services (PS) categories, selecting appropriate RFx, following formal sourcing processes and handing off to the business and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Managing a small team of sourcing managers Informing the category management strategy for the IT and PS categories, reflecting corporate objectives Proactive identification of new sourcing initiatives through deep stakeholder relationships and regular analysis of various spend data Negotiating contractual and commercial terms with suppliers Identify opportunities to control cost in existing supplier contracts - supplier's compliance to the contract, price variations, challenging demand Providing procurement expertise to support budget holders/Relationship Managers Enabling budget holders to optimise their budgets and deliver business requirements at best value with minimised risk Identifying and delivering cost saving and cost avoidance opportunities to meet budget holder targets, producing MI as required Supporting the development of Procurement’s supplier contract management and governance system, also including TPRM Advocate and communicate benefits to the business of timely engagement with Procurement What experience we’re looking for; Minimum 10 years of dedicated procurement experiences, Financial Services background helpful, as well as knowledge of regulatory guidelines for third party management Understanding of sustainable procurement best practices and how to embed this into the sourcing process Experience of drafting, negotiating, and managing supplier agreements within IT / Technology and PS categories 10+ years of experience in selecting, onboarding, and managing suppliers Excellent relationship management skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with senior management Experience in sourcing and procurement processes and tools, e.g. Ariba/SAP, Coupa (preferred, not essential) Strong commercial, analytical and project management skills Takes ownership and delivers projects to optimal conclusion Extremely customer-focused, taking the time to understand the needs of the business Strong ability to influence others with excellent written and verbal communication skills Self-motivated and collaborative individual with a curious and driven approach Flexible working approach, and open to exploring categories outside of outlined remit should the opportunity arise Demonstrable skills in commercial and contract negotiations Ability to manage and take ownership of multiple complex projects simultaneously Analytical and highly numerate – ideally intermediate level or higher in MS Excel, PowerPoint Confident in report writing and presentation -able to ‘tell the story’ and simplify complexity Adaptable to a wider range of stakeholders with different needs and experiences Key Measures of Success: Implementation of contracts on Allwyn terms Service Level Agreement (SLA) on building RFPs Cost avoidance during tactical sourcing / spot buys Contribution to cost reduction targets and avoidance Positive stakeholder relationship management Adherence to the company social value framework Quality of the products supplied to the business Pricing competitiveness Purchase in budget and delivered on time Compliance with negotiated terms About us At Allwyn, we are dedicated to changing lives and growing the National Lottery responsibly, championing its positive impact on people, places, and the planet. Innovation - We pride ourselves on it! We’re constantly looking for new ways to excite our customers, bringing new products to market to enjoy which is all supported by our responsible play values and making them accessible to all. Giving back – Did you know that playing the lottery generates around £30m a week for charities and good causes in the UK? Our aim is to have doubled this number by the end of the first 10-year license. Sustainability – Our aim is to become a net zero national lottery. We have 2030 targets to decarbonise our operations and energy. We’ve already transitioned to renewable energy providers, made our London and Watford offices zero gas, and ensured our fleet consists of low-emission vehicles. In addition, we’re working with our value chain partners to develop a net zero target date. Empowering every voice – We believe in creating a culture where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, has access to opportunities and can thrive for the benefit of good causes. Our diverse teams are working hard to make all parts of The National Lottery inclusive – whether people play a game in a store or online- - because when everyone can play, everyone wins. Our people are more than colleagues - they’re winners, driving positive change and making a real difference in communities. We are a Disability Confident Leader which means we’ve taken proactive steps to ensure our workplace is accessible and inclusive for disabled and neurodivergent colleagues and candidates. As part of this we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential requirements of the job. An inclusive reward offering with wellbeing at the centre At Allwyn, inclusion is built into how we care for our people. Our benefits and policies support colleagues—and their families—at every stage of life and career. By prioritising wellbeing and belonging, we create a workplace where everyone feels valued, rewarded, and empowered to succeed. BENEFITS Our benefits are built to support you at every stage of life. From wellbeing and financial security to enjoying more of what you love, our benefit offerings help you thrive at work and at home. Company Bonus Scheme Matched pension contributions up to 8.5% 26 days annual leave + 2 Life Days (and bank holidays) Single Private Health Cover Complimentary Private Medical Income Protection Flexible Benefits – EV Scheme, Money Coach, Will Writing, Mortgage Advice, Dental and Eye Care Schemes. Enhanced Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption) Wellness Allowance £500 Employee Assistance Programme Discounted Health Assessment Volunteering Days Matched Funding