Director, Regional IT Procurement Lead

About the Role

We are partnering with a leading global financial institution undergoing a multi-year APAC transformation programme. They are seeking an experienced Director, Regional IT Procurement Lead to establish and lead the regional IT procurement function across Asia Pacific.

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for building procurement capabilities, driving sourcing initiatives for large-scale IT transformation programmes, and implementing governance, vendor management, and cost optimisation strategies across the region.

Key Responsibilities

Regional IT Procurement Leadership

• Establish and lead the APAC regional IT procurement team
• Define team structure, operating model, and responsibilities
• Build procurement capabilities to support regional transformation initiatives

Procurement Strategy & Process Setup

• Design and implement end-to-end IT procurement processes and governance frameworks
• Align procurement workflows with internal controls, compliance, and audit requirements
• Drive continuous process improvement and operational efficiency

IT Sourcing & Transformation Initiatives

• Lead sourcing activities for strategic IT transformation projects
• Manage RFI, RFQ, RFP, vendor evaluation, and selection processes
• Partner closely with stakeholders across IT, Legal, Risk, Finance, and regional business teams

Vendor & Commercial Management

• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, licensing, SLAs, renewals, and contracts
• Oversee vendor due diligence, performance management, and risk governance
• Drive vendor rationalisation and supplier optimisation initiatives

Cost Optimisation & Spend Management

• Analyse spend data to identify savings opportunities and consolidation strategies
• Deliver cost optimisation initiatives across software, infrastructure, cloud, and IT services categories
• Track and report procurement savings and value delivery

Requirements

• Minimum 12 years of experience in IT procurement and strategic sourcing
• Proven experience setting up or transforming regional IT procurement functions in a greenfield environment
• Strong leadership experience managing APAC procurement teams and regional stakeholders
• Extensive sourcing experience across software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, and IT services
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, vendor management, and contract negotiations
• Experience leading large-scale transformation sourcing initiatives and cost optimisation programmes
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across regional and global teams
• Familiarity with procurement compliance, risk, and regulatory considerations within the Asia Pacific

Preferred Experience

• Experience within banking, financial services, or highly regulated environments
• Strong knowledge of IT vendor ecosystems, licensing models, and commercial structures