Procurement Sourcing Specialist – Professional Services (SOW & Commercials)

Job description

Company Description Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world. We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us. Job Description We are establishing a new specialist sub‑team within Global Procurement focused on the pre‑signature review, commercial assessment, and negotiation of Statements of Work (SOWs) for professional services across the business. The Procurement Sourcing Specialist will act as a front‑line commercial and risk partner to the business, ensuring that professional services engagements are correctly structured, appropriately classified, commercially robust, and competitively priced before supplier contracts are signed. These roles will play a critical part in managing incoming demand, reviewing SOWs for risk and value, leveraging AI‑enabled insight, and leading SOW negotiations with suppliers in collaboration with business stakeholders. Key Responsibilities : Demand Management & Intake Manage new professional services requests coming through the procurement triage and intake process Prioritising demand based on risk, value, and urgency Act as the primary procurement contact for SOW‑related requests during the pre‑signature phase SOW Review & Risk Assessment Conduct detailed pre‑signature reviews of Statements of Work for professional services Validate correct labour classification, distinguishing between: Outcome‑based professional services Staff augmentation / contingent labour (and flagging misclassification risks) Where it’s deemed necessary, supporting the re-routing of a requirement to staff Aug to the Contingent Labour buy channel Assess clarity and robustness of SOW: Scope, deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria Commercial model (fixed price, time & materials, capped fees, etc.) Risk allocation between the business and the supplier Commercial Evaluation & Benchmarking Review and challenge supplier commercials to ensure: Appropriate transfer of delivery and performance risk to the supplier Alignment between fees and defined outcomes Use AECOM’s third‑party AI tool to: Analyse labour classification and delivery risk Benchmark pay rates, fees, and pricing structures where available Identify cost‑saving opportunities and areas for commercial improvement Negotiation & Stakeholder Support Provide clear, pragmatic negotiation recommendations to business requestors Lead or co‑lead SOW negotiations directly with suppliers, focusing on: Improved commercial outcomes Risk mitigation Value for money Partner closely with Legal, HR, IT, and Finance as required to resolve issues Ensure agreed commercial positions are accurately reflected in final SOWs Governance & Continuous Improvement Ensure compliance with procurement policies and engagement models Support the development of standard SOW templates, playbooks, and negotiation guides Share insights and recurring risks to improve upstream demand quality and sourcing outcomes Key Spend Categories IT, Transformation & Digital Services HR & People Services Professional & Consulting Services Potential for Legal Services Qualifications Essential: Proven experience (typically 4–8 years) in procurement or sourcing, with a strong focus on professional services Hands‑on experience reviewing and negotiating Statements of Work (SOWs) pre‑signature Strong understanding of: Outcome‑based professional services vs staff augmentation models Commercial risk in consulting and professional services engagements Awareness of country-based legislation pertaining to labour classification and tax to effectively communicate the implications / risk to business stakeholders Demonstrated experience leading supplier negotiations Ability to interpret and challenge complex commercial and contractual structures Desirable: Experience working across global or multi‑business environments Exposure to AI‑enabled procurement or contract analytics tools Strong working knowledge of IR35 / worker classification risk (or equivalent) Experience of procure to pay systems, eCatalogues, eSourcing platforms and spend analytics tools would be an advantage Knowledge of Coupa and PowerBI would be an advantage Skills, Capabilities & Technical Knowledge: Very strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills Confident stakeholder engagement with senior business partners Ability to balance risk management with commercial pragmatism Analytical mindset, comfortable benchmarking and challenging pricing assumptions Able to operate autonomously while collaborating closely within a small specialist team Resilient and results driven mentality to drive results across a diverse stakeholder landscape Clear communicator, able to translate technical and commercial issues into practical guidance Numerate with strong analytical skills included advanced MS Excel skills Degree in commercial, procurement, business or engineering Nationally recognized professional certification (eg Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply or Certified Purchasing Manager or equivalent professional procurement and supply chain qualification). Additional Information At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment. About AECOM AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. What makes AECOM a great place to work You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.