Procurement Director - IT & Technology

Job Description

What you'll bring to the team

Location: London - Arbor Building Division: Procurement

We're on the hunt for a Procurement Director to lead and transform our IT & Technology function.

You'll be responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, supplier management, and commercial optimisation of global IT and Technology spend across Merlin Entertainments.

The role will lead the development and implementation of a best-in-class IT category strategy, delivering value through cost optimisation, supplier innovation, and risk management.

A key element of the role is to drive procurement transformation, including building structured category management frameworks, improving governance, and embedding procurement as a strategic partner to technology leadership.

The role will work closely with CTO, Technology Leadership, Finance, and Legal to ensure technology investments deliver strong commercial value while supporting Merlin’s digital and operational transformation agenda.

Key Accountabilities

Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop and implement a global IT & Technology category strategy across software, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, hardware, and digital platforms.
• Build a multi-year sourcing roadmap aligned with Merlin’s technology and digital strategy.
• Conduct spend analysis to identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, cost optimisation, and service improvement.
• Establish category management frameworks including supplier segmentation, sourcing pipelines, and performance KPIs.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the technology supply market to inform sourcing decisions and innovation opportunities.

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Negotiation

• Lead complex RFx processes for high-value technology contracts including SaaS, infrastructure, managed services, and digital platforms.
• Negotiate commercial terms and contract structures that deliver measurable cost savings and value creation.
• Support major technology initiatives and digital transformation programmes through commercial leadership and sourcing expertise.
• Deliver cost reduction, cost avoidance, and service improvements in line with agreed procurement targets.
• Leverage Merlin’s global scale to secure favourable commercial terms and strategic supplier partnerships.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with key technology vendors and partners.
• Establish supplier performance management frameworks including KPIs, service reviews, and improvement plans.
• Work with suppliers to drive innovation, service improvements, and technology value.
• Monitor supplier risk, governance, and compliance with cybersecurity and data protection requirements.
• Support operational teams in resolving supplier performance issues through effective contract management and service level agreements.

Procurement Transformation & Governance

• Drive the maturity and transformation of procurement practices within the technology category.
• Implement best-practice sourcing processes, governance frameworks, and procurement policies.
• Introduce structured category management tools, supplier performance frameworks, and contract lifecycle management practices.
• Support the adoption of digital procurement tools, sourcing platforms, and spend analytics.
• Improve procurement visibility, compliance, and commercial discipline across technology spend.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership

• Act as a trusted commercial partner to the CTO, IT leadership teams, and key business stakeholders.
• Provide strategic guidance on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and commercial models.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, and risk teams to ensure strong contract governance and risk mitigation.
• Support business cases and investment decisions through commercial analysis and procurement insights.
• Build strong relationships across global teams to ensure alignment on sourcing strategies and procurement objectives.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to streamline procurement processes and reduce transactional workload.
• Work with local teams to eliminate inefficiencies and improve procurement delivery.
• Drive supplier consolidation initiatives to simplify supplier ecosystems and improve commercial outcomes.
• Ensure effective contract management in partnership with Group Legal.
• Promote procurement best practices and commercial discipline across the organisation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive procurement experience managing IT and Technology categories within a complex, global organisation.
• Proven experience developing and implementing category strategies and sourcing roadmaps.
• Strong track record delivering procurement transformation and improving procurement maturity.
• Expertise sourcing across SaaS, enterprise software, cloud services (IaaS/PaaS), IT services, and digital platforms.
• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management experience with high-value technology suppliers.
• Professional procurement qualification such as MCIPS, CIPS, or equivalent

Benefits

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects – ideal if you’re already fantastic and want to become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 25 days’ holiday and, of course, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, as well as 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO.

Pay Range

Competitive