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About the Role
This role leads the strategic sourcing, supplier management, and commercial optimization of Marketing, Facilities, and Business Services spend across Merlin Entertainments. It involves developing and implementing best-in-class category strategies to deliver value through cost optimization, supplier innovation, and risk management. A key focus is driving procurement transformation, including building structured category management frameworks, improving governance, and embedding procurement as a strategic partner to technology leadership. The role collaborates with Leadership, Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure category strategies deliver strong commercial value and support Merlin’s transformation and long-term agenda.
Responsibilities
- Lead a team to develop and implement global category strategies.
- Establish the category management framework, including spend analysis, supplier segmentation, sourcing pipelines, and performance KPIs.
- Build a multi-year strategic sourcing roadmap aligned with Merlin Entertainments' strategy.
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, cost reduction, and service optimization.
- Drive the maturity and transformation of the procurement function within the global category.
- Implement best-practice sourcing processes, governance models, and procurement policies.
- Introduce structured category management tools, supplier performance management frameworks, and contract lifecycle management practices.
- Support the adoption of digital procurement tools, spend analytics, and sourcing platforms.
- Lead initiatives to improve procurement visibility, compliance, and commercial discipline across spend.
- Lead complex RFx processes, commercial negotiations, and contract development for high-value and high-risk suppliers.
- Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation across spend.
- Provide commercial leadership on strategic initiatives.
- Ensure strong contract structures covering SLAs, performance metrics, security, and risk mitigation.
- Develop and manage strategic supplier partnerships.
- Establish a supplier performance management framework including regular reviews and innovation roadmaps.
- Collaborate with suppliers to deliver continuous improvement, innovation, and value.
- Monitor supplier risk and ensure compliance with governance, cybersecurity, and data protection requirements.
- Act as a trusted commercial partner to the Leadership team and business stakeholders.
- Provide guidance on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and technology commercial models.
- Build strong relationships with finance, legal, and risk teams to ensure effective contract governance.
- Support business cases and investment decisions through commercial analysis and procurement insights.
Requirements
- Extensive procurement experience in Marketing, Facilities, and Business Services categories within a complex global organization.
- Strong experience developing and implementing category strategies from the ground up.
- Demonstrated success delivering procurement transformation or maturity improvements.
- Strong commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
- Experience managing strategic supplier relationships with global technology vendors.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills with senior executives.
Skills
- Strategic thinking and category leadership
- Procurement transformation mindset
- Commercial negotiation excellence
- Stakeholder influence and collaboration
- Data-driven decision making
- Supplier relationship management
- Change leadership
Location
- London - Arbor Building
Experience Level
- Extensive experience
Education Level
- MCIPS, CIPS, or equivalent procurement qualification
Salary/Compensations
- Competitive
Benefits
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Discretionary company bonus
- 25 days’ holiday
- Merlin Magic Pass for free admission to all worldwide attractions for you, friends, and family
- 25% discount in retail shops and restaurants
- 40% discount on LEGO
About the Company
- Merlin Entertainments
- Operates attractions worldwide