About AXA: AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence. AXA UK Support Functions look after our three customer-facing business units, providing the infrastructure and expertise to make sure we can be there for our customers. Job overview: Reporting directly into the Head of Procurement for AXA UK, the role involves working proactively to define an overall professional services category strategy and supporting the team to develop associated supplier engagement plans in collaboration with supplier owners across the business. The aim is to drive innovation, resilience, and long-term value through the delivery of all procurement activities and engagements within the category and provide expert guidance to stakeholders to ensure the outcomes delivered are effective, compliant and provide value for money. Key responsibilities: Lead, motivate, and develop the team to achieve goals while fostering trust and collaboration. Align team objectives with organisational strategies, managing workloads, resolving issues, and escalating as needed. Develop a category strategy for Professional Services, identifying sourcing opportunities to optimise value, cost, and quality. Build market intelligence through research channels, industry insights, and benchmarking to inform strategy. Lead negotiations to secure favourable terms, supporting cost savings and tracking procurement performance. Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, ensuring data-driven decisions and consistent engagement. Ensure compliance with procurement policies, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) regulations, and internal risk frameworks. Promote continuous improvement and proactively mitigate procurement risks across processes. Work arrangements: At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events. We're also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition. Your skills & experience: Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong supplier and internal relationships. Proven expertise in conducting market analysis, evaluating trends, assessing risks, and optimising procurement strategies. Skilled in interpreting legal and contractual documents, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks through careful review and collaboration with legal teams. Strong project management experience, capable of leading procurement initiatives from start to finish within scope, budget, and timeline. Ability to analyse data and procurement metrics to inform decision-making and improve sourcing outcomes. Proficient in developing strategic, long-term partnerships with suppliers to foster collaboration and drive innovation. Adept at resolving conflicts, managing disputes, and communicating effectively with diverse audiences at all levels. Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and negotiate favourable terms that support organisational objectives. As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom. How to apply: To apply, click on the '