The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From IT Sourcing Specialist (Level 002)
2-3 years at the Specialist level.Skills to master
- You'd need to have consistently delivered on small-to-medium sourcing projects, demonstrated strong analytical skills, and started to build good stakeholder relationships. Proving you can handle ambiguity and take initiative on complex problems is key.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led 5+ strategic sourcing projects independently.
- Consistently identified and delivered validated savings or value.
- Received positive feedback from IT stakeholders on your commercial support.
- Proactively taken on additional responsibilities or mentored new team members.
- 2
From a Commercial/Vendor Manager role within an IT department
Roughly 5-7 years in a similar commercial role.Skills to master
- You'd bring deep IT vendor knowledge and commercial awareness, but you'd need to pick up the formal strategic sourcing methodologies, TCO modelling, and broader category management principles. Understanding the 'procurement playbook' is crucial.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed key IT vendor relationships and contract renewals effectively.
- Demonstrated strong negotiation skills from the 'business side' of the table.
- A good understanding of IT specific contract terms and commercial models.
- A clear desire to move into a dedicated procurement function and learn its processes.
- 3
From a Consulting background (focused on Procurement/IT)
3-5 years post-MBA or similar experience.Skills to master
- You'd likely have strong analytical and strategic skills, but you'd need to adapt to the operational realities of in-house procurement. This means getting hands-on with our P2P/CLM systems and building long-term internal relationships, rather than just delivering projects and moving on.
You're ready to move on when
- Experience working on procurement transformation or IT sourcing projects for clients.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a structured approach.
- A willingness to get into the 'nitty-gritty' of day-to-day procurement operations.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders in a client-facing capacity.