EY-GDS: Business Consulting -SC and O - Supply Chain and Operations – Senior Manager - Procurement Operations – BC10RF

As part of our EY‑GDS team, this Senior Manager role is critical to strengthening our Procurement Operations capability and driving long-term operational excellence for our clients. You will lead the design and transformation of procurement operating models, oversee large-scale operations programs, expand key client relationships, and develop high-performing teams across procurement service lines. Your leadership, operational expertise, and ability to drive governance, efficiency, and digital enablement will be instrumental in positioning the firm as a market leader in procurement operations advisory and managed services.

The opportunity

We are seeking a highly accomplished Senior Manager to lead and elevate complex procurement operations and transformation initiatives for global clients. The ideal candidate will bring 12–15 years of deep hands-on experience in procurement operations, strategic sourcing, and transition management, complemented by a solid consulting background and a proven ability to lead large, cross-functional teams.

This role requires a senior leader who can optimize end-to-end procurement processes, define and operationalize transformation roadmaps, and drive measurable improvements across efficiency, compliance, service quality, and digital enablement. The successful candidate will be adept at influencing executive stakeholders, building and leading high-performing delivery teams. The ideal candidate combines operational excellence, strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and strong leadership capabilities, consistently creating long-term value for clients and strengthening the organization’s business process outsourcing of procurement operations.

Your key responsibilities

• Lead and govern end‑to‑end Procure‑to‑Order (P2O) and Invoice‑to‑Pay (I2P) operations across global delivery centres and managed services, ensuring process standardization, operational efficiency, controls, and compliance.
• Oversee Sourcing operations including competitive bidding, RFP/RFQ execution support, sourcing pipeline governance, and alignment with category strategies.
• Drive Buying Channel strategy, catalog management, and procurement policy enablement, ensuring the right channels (catalogs, guided buying, sourcing events, spot buys, service entry, etc.) are used for operational efficiency and compliance.
• Oversee Vendor Master Data governance, including onboarding, updates, validations, risk checks, and data quality controls to ensure accurate supplier records across systems.
• Lead the Procurement Helpdesk / Service Desk operations to ensure timely resolution of user queries, process clarifications, system support issues, and effective ticket management.
• Govern the creation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of Desktop Procedures (DTPs), SOPs, and process documentation to ensure consistent global delivery.
• Manage BPO operations with strong command over delivery governance, SLA/KPI performance, process stabilization, and client stakeholder management.
• Plan and execute end‑to‑end transition activities including Pre-KT, KT planning, Job Shadowing, Reverse Job Shadowing, Go‑Live readiness, and Hypercare stabilization, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer and operational continuity.
• Oversee service delivery performance aligned to SLAs, KPIs, and contractual commitments, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Define the long-term procurement operations and transformation vision for clients, aligned with enterprise strategy, operating models, and market dynamics.
• Act as a senior advisor to CPOs, CFOs, COOs, and executive leadership teams on procurement operations excellence, risk management, digital enablement, and service delivery optimization.
• Lead Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) operations including contract creation, reviews, renewals, amendments, compliance monitoring, and risk mitigation.
• Drive end-to-end Supplier Management covering onboarding, segmentation, performance governance, risk management, and issue resolution in partnership with legal, sourcing, finance, and business stakeholders.
• Lead spend analytics, opportunity assessments, and insight generation to identify savings, demand optimization, compliance improvements, and overall value creation; govern dashboards and reporting for senior stakeholders.
• Track and validate benefits realization, partnering closely with Finance and client teams to ensure measurable outcomes.
• Drive digital procurement enablement and system optimization leveraging platforms such as SAP Ariba, ServiceNow, and supplier portals, acting as a senior SME during implementation, transition, and enhancement programs.
• Lead large-scale procurement transformation initiatives including operating model redesign, process re-engineering, digitization, and managed services transitions.
• Manage transitions across captive, outsourced, hybrid, and fully managed services delivery models, ensuring smooth knowledge transfer, risk mitigation, and stakeholder alignment.
• Oversee technology assessments, business case development, roadmap creation, integration planning, and implementation oversight for procurement systems.
• Serve as a senior client-facing leader, managing C-suite stakeholder relationships, leading governance forums, steering committees, performance reviews, and issue escalations.
• Support growth initiatives by shaping solutions, developing proposals, defining value articulation, and leading pursuit efforts to expand the procurement operations portfolio.
• Lead multi-workstream procurement engagements including category management operations, supplier management transformation, contract operations, digital procurement enablement, and process redesign.
• Establish governance structures, risk frameworks, and quality protocols to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across global teams.
• Ensure alignment between delivery teams, senior stakeholders, and business objectives, proactively resolving strategic issues and mitigating operational risks.
• Build, lead, and mentor high-performing teams of managers, SMEs, consultants, and analysts—driving capability development, innovation, and a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop internal procurement operations capabilities by creating knowledge assets, training modules, methodologies, and best-practice frameworks.
• Collaborate closely across supply chain, operations, finance, and digital service lines to deliver integrated, enterprise-wide procurement solutions.
• Present strategic recommendations, operational insights, and performance outcomes to executive leadership and client boards.
• Proactively manage complex, multi-stakeholder environments, balancing diverse expectations while driving alignment and consensus.
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational and strategic issues, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining strong client confidence.
• Bring strong experience in FMCG procurement operations, with deep understanding of high-volume, fast-paced environments and exposure to typical direct/indirect categories within FMCG organizations.

Skills and attributes for success

• Deep expertise in procurement operations, including PR‑to‑PO execution, category operations, contract administration, supplier performance governance, and digital procurement workflows.
• Strong knowledge of operational sourcing, category execution support, and procurement service delivery models across global, high‑volume environments.
• Proven ability to grow procurement operations accounts, shape large managed services deals, and lead pursuits focused on operational excellence, service delivery, and cost/value outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing large operations teams and multi‑workstream delivery environments, ensuring consistent performance, compliance, and service quality.
• Executive‑level communication and influencing skills to engage CPOs, procurement directors, operations leaders, and cross‑functional senior stakeholders.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate operations commercial models, validate savings/efficiency business cases, and guide commercial negotiations.
• Thought leadership in next‑generation procurement operations, including automation, AI‑enabled workflows, analytics-driven operations, and digital procurement enablement to drive productivity enhancements.
• Advanced analytical, diagnostic, and problem‑solving capabilities to guide operational decisions, optimize processes, and enhance performance management frameworks.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure procurement environments with strong judgment, structured thinking, and a focus on operational stability and continuous improvement.

To qualify for the role, you should have

• Master’s degree in business administration or supply chain & Operations from a Tier-1/Tier-2 institute
• 12-15+ years of experience in procurement and supply chain management, with a proven track record in leading procurement process transitions and driving delivery excellence.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, complex transformation programs.
• Strong background in managing global managed services delivery models.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, matrixed, global environments.
• Proven success in account expansion, client relationship management and business development
• Expertise in supervising procurement digitization projects involving tools such as SAP Ariba, Service Now, Coupa, Ivalua, Jaggaer or similar systems
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams and large-scale engagements
• Strong understanding of procurement analytics, cost modelling, category strategies and supplier performance frameworks
• Willingness to travel based on client/project requirements (approximately 30%)

What we look for

• A team of people with commercial acumen, technical experience and enthusiasm to learn new things in this fast-moving environment
• An opportunity to be a part of market-leading, multi-disciplinary team of 1400 + professionals in the only integrated global transaction business worldwide
• Opportunities to work with EY SCO practices globally with leading businesses across a range of industries

What working at EY offers

At EY, we’re dedicated to helping our clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies — and the work we do with them is as varied as they are.

You get to work with inspiring and meaningful projects. Our focus is education and coaching alongside practical experience to ensure your personal development. We value our employees and you will be able to control your own development with an individual progression plan. You will quickly grow into a responsible role with challenging and stimulating assignments. Moreover, you will be part of an interdisciplinary environment that emphasizes high quality and knowledge exchange. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you