Senior Associate, Specialist Technology Procurement, Technology & Operations

Job description

Business Function Group Technology and Operations (T&O) enables and empowers the bank with an efficient, nimble and resilient infrastructure through a strategic focus on productivity, quality & control, technology, people capability and innovation. In Group T&O, we manage the majority of the Bank's operational processes and inspire to delight our business partners through our multiple banking delivery channels. Job Description A specialist Technology Procurement shall be driving strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, and vendor governance for critical IT infrastructure, software, and services. [1, 2, 3] Role Overview • Department: Group Procurement / Technology & Operations • Key Focus: Driving cost optimization, mitigating third-party risk, and ensuring strict regulatory compliance in a highly secure financial environment. [1, 2, 3] Key Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Management: • Lead end-to-end procurement projects for major technology portfolios, including IT Infrastructure – Switches, Routers, Storage, core banking applications, cybersecurity solutions, data centers, and IT professional services. • Develop multi-year category strategies aligned with the bank’s digital transformation and operational goals. Commercial Negotiation & Cost Optimization: • Drive complex commercial negotiations with major tier-1 technology vendors to achieve Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reductions. • Establish pricing models, volume discounts, and favorable service level agreements (SLAs). • Conduct Reverse Auctions to discover pricing Risk & Regulatory Compliance: • Ensure all technology vendor engagements adhere to financial regulatory frameworks • Partner with Risk, Information Security, and Legal teams to perform vendor due diligence and risk assessments. Vendor Lifecycle & Relationship Management (SRM): • Manage strategic vendor performance reviews, contract renewals, dispute resolution, and vendor rationalization. Stakeholder & Team Leadership: • Collaborate with internal business partners (CIOs, CTOs, Finance, and Legal) to forecast technology demand and streamline the procure-to-pay (P2P) lifecycle. Job Requirements • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with MBA from reputed institute shall be an added advantage • Experience: 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in IT procurement, strategic sourcing, or commercial management, with significant exposure to a regulated banking or financial services environment. • Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of software licensing metrics, cloud consumption models, hardware infrastructure, and IT service agreements. • Skills: Advanced contract negotiation, Advance excel skills, executive-level stakeholder management, financial modeling (TCO/ROI analysis), and risk mitigation. • Tools & Certifications: Familiarity with e-procurement platforms, COUPA etc