Custom Software Engineering Lead

Overview

Own the sourcing cycle for assigned IT categories within the extended VMO, from sourcing strategy and RFP execution through supplier evaluation, contract award, and post-award contract support.

What you'll do

• Own the sourcing pipeline and RFP/RFI/RFQ governance for all IT categories across assigned topics.
• Absorb and independently operate the tendering knowledge, tools and templates.
• Develop category sourcing strategy for IT categories, aligned to business objectives, budget and financial targets.
• Partner with stakeholders and business/technology leads to establish requirements, scope and evaluation criteria ahead of each sourcing event.
• Develop and issue RFI/RFP/RFQ documentation covering requirements, scope, evaluation criteria, timelines and commercial terms.
• Manage bidder communications, clarification cycles and Q&A sessions throughout the bid period.
• Ensure bid documentation clearly defines scope, inclusions/exclusions, assumptions and commercial structure to support clean comparison across bidders.
• Evaluate and analyse incumbent and potential suppliers against established evaluation and selection criteria: cost, technical fit, service levels, risk and (where applicable) ESG factors.
• Perform bid analysis and leveling (scope, inclusions/exclusions, assumptions, schedule impact) to ensure like-for-like comparison across proposals.
• Facilitate a cross-functional evaluation committee (Technology, Legal, Finance, InfoSec) and consolidate scoring into a clear, defensible recommendation.
• Support commercial negotiations on pricing structure, payment terms, SLAs, warranties and key risk clauses, in coordination with Procurement.
• Support contract drafting and finalisation with Legal, ensuring terms reflect RFP and negotiation outcomes.
• Prepare award recommendations based on evaluation scoring and secure the appropriate governance/approval sign-off.

What you'll need

• Must have: Supplier Contract Management.
• Minimum 7.5 years of experience is required.
• 9+ years of dedicated Sourcing and Procurement experience, with a strong IT/technology category focus.
• Post Graduate degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated track record running full sourcing cycles, from RFP through evaluation, award and contract support, delivering measurable cost savings.
• Strong negotiation experience on contracts of significant value, covering pricing, SLAs, payment terms and risk allocation.
• Strong RFx process discipline and documentation rigour.
• Analytical skills for bid analysis, TCO modelling and weighted evaluation scoring.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple concurrent sourcing cycles at varying stages.
• 15 years full time education.

Nice to have

• Strategic Sourcing / IT Procurement.
• RFx Management (RFI/RFP/RFQ).