The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organisation for public-private cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Why we are recruiting
The Procurement function is continuing to transform, strengthen and standardize its Source-to-Pay (S2P) processes to improve efficiency, compliance, and user experience across the organization.
We are looking for a Procurement Business Process Owner to take ownership of procurement processes, tools, and governance. The role will also lead procurement continuous improvement agenda, focusing strengthening and standardizing procurement practices in close collaboration with internal stakeholders, increasing consistency and enabling operational excellence.
Depending on organizational needs and priorities, the scope could evolve over time to include selected operational strategic sourcing activities and/or the initiation of the WEF’s responsible procurement program.
Reporting Lines & Interactions
The Procurement Business Process Owner reports to the Head of Procurement and works closely with cross-functional teams including Finance Process Excellence and Technology team, Accounts Payable, Financial Planning, Legal and Compliance, IT and Sustainability.
The role interacts regularly with procurement team members and business stakeholders to ensure processes are understood, adopted, and continuously improved in an integrated fashion.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and manage end-to-end procurement processes across the Source-to-Pay (S2P) lifecycle
- Define, document, and maintain procurement policies, standard operating procedures, and guidelines
- Drive standardization and harmonization of procurement processes across categories and teams ; and ensure strong integration between procurement processes and finance controls, systems and standards.
- Identify process inefficiencies and lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance performance and user experience
- Act as the key point of contact for procurement tools and systems (e.g. S2P / P2P platforms), including enhancements and issue resolution in collaboration with the Finance Technology team and IT
- Enable and support the implementation, optimization, and adoption of procurement systems, digital tools and methods
- Ensure alignment and seamless integration between procurement processes and internal controls, audit requirements, and compliance standards
- Develop, monitor and report Procurement key performance indicators, including those related to procurement processes and performance
- Establish and run the Procurement governance framework (including continuous improvement pipeline, best-practice standards, and capability building)
- Provide relevant training, guidance, and support to stakeholders and procurement team members on processes and tools
- Lead and facilitate change management activities to support adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working
- Collaborate with other Procurement team members to ensure processes effectively support sourcing and operational activities
- As needed, support operational strategic sourcing activities initiate and/or help shape the WEF’s responsible procurement program
- Take on (contribute to, or lead) projects, duties or business improvement activities as assigned by the Head of Procurement
The Successful Candidate Will Be:
- Process-Oriented & Structured
- Strong ability to design, document, and improve processes
- Detail-oriented with a focus on consistency, quality, and efficiency
- Able to translate complex processes into clear and practical guidance
- Collaborative & Influential
- Builds strong relationships across functions and levels
- Able to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Capable of influencing adoption of processes and best practices
- Change & Improvement Driven
- Proactive in identifying opportunities for improvement
- Comfortable working in evolving environments and driving change
- “Can do” attitude, focused on delivering practical, sustainable solutions
- Communicator
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Capable of creating and delivering training, and simplifying complex topics
Preferred Requirements and Experience
- University degree in Business, Finance, Procurement, or related field
- 7 to 10 years of experience in procurement, process improvement, or operations
- Strong understanding of end to end Source-to-Pay (S2P) processes and procurement best practices
- Experience with procurement systems (S2P / P2P tools) and process implementation or optimization
- Experience in process design, documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Demonstrated experience in driving / implementing change
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work with data and performance metrics
- Experience working in cross-functional or international environments
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Familiarity with audit, compliance, and internal control frameworks is a plus
- Previous hands on experience of operational strategic sourcing and/or category management is a significant advantage
- Interest or experience in responsible procurement / ESG-related supplier practices is a plus
- Fluent in English; French is a strong advantage
Why work at the Forum:
The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!