Re:Sources is the backbone of Publicis Groupe, the world’s third-largest communications group. Formed in 1998 as a small team to service a few Publicis Groupe firms, Re:Sources has grown to 5,000+ people servicing a global network of prestigious advertising, public relations, media, healthcare and digital marketing agencies. We provide technology solutions and business services including finance, accounting, legal, benefits, procurement, tax, real estate, treasury and risk management to help Publicis Groupe agencies do what they do best: create and innovate for their clients.   

In addition to providing essential, everyday services to our agencies, Re:Sources develops and implements platforms, applications and tools to enhance productivity, encourage collaboration and enable professional and personal development. We continually transform to keep pace with our ever-changing communications industry and thrive on a spirit of innovation felt around the globe. With our support, Publicis Groupe agencies continue to create and deliver award-winning campaigns for their clients.

The Travel Buyer will be responsible for managing the procurement of travel-related services, focusing on either regional or global opportunities with occasional market specific projects focused on Publicis Groupe key markets.

The Travel Buyer will work closely with and under the direction of the Global Travel & Related Services Director who is responsible for category strategy formulation. The Travel Buyer will be expected to have the maturity to work independently with minimal supervision, be able to use advanced business acumen to work through business opportunities, design execution plans and make optimal recommendations for ratification and approval by the Global Travel & Related Services Director. The Travel Buyer will use their knowledge and expertise to coach, guide and contribute to the professional development of the procurement team members, as and when required.

Key responsibilities

• Undertakes complex spend analysis, spots patterns, trends and opportunities and makes recommendations for new project opportunities to the Global Travel & Related Services Director.
• Undertakes market research and completes regular benchmarking exercises to ensure existing programmes are best in class.
• Prepare sourcing strategy for approval by CPO and/or Global Travel & Related Services Director: explores and assesses appropriate options and tailors actions accordingly.
• Prepares well-structured RFX documentation containing relevant information for complex requirements, including shaping qualitative criteria and pricing schedules and running fair, transparent and efficient competitive bidding processes.
• Oversees or directs the evaluation process for complex or politically sensitive procurements to ensure compliance with all policy requirements and to drive value for money outcome.
• Ability to draft contract terms from a standard template and negotiate contractual terms: ensures the application of principles of contract law in procurement and uses knowledge to provide influential advice to senior stakeholders. Engages with senior legal experts on complex contract law matters.
• Ability to write implementation plans, communications and create business plans
• Advises on the development of the contract management strategy for complex requirements based on risk, the nature of the contract, and its importance to achieving agency and government objectives.
• Challenges and offers suggestions to improve procurement activities, where appropriate, including identifying opportunities for aggregation.
• Responsible for tracking savings and cost avoidance potential, dealing with financial planning and forecasting
• Can provide in-depth analysis of travel spend to provide KPI measurement, areas of concern, areas of improvement, etc.

• 1-2 years’ travel procurement experience - ideally with international, global experience of travel category. Candidates must possess a thorough knowledge of the travel industry, its technology tools and its regional characteristics.
• Good travel contracts experience
• Developed project management skills: highly organised and able to prioritise tasks
• Advanced negotiations and data analytical skills
• Business acumen: sound financial, legal and communication skills
• Politically savvy: ability to build and maintain effective working relationships
• Previous experience of working in a fast paced, dynamic and entrepreneurial procurement environment
• A proven team player with excellent communication skills, analytical skills and attention to detail
• Completely literate in English language and one other is an advantage