Location: 

Zurich, Zurich, CH

Leader IT Outsourcing Procurement (Hybrid; m/f/x/d;100%)

Are you a bold, strategic procurement leader ready to shape the future of IT Outsourcing at one of the world's leading reinsurance companies? Swiss Re is looking for a visionary individual who thrives on driving transformation, building high-performing teams, and delivering measurable value in a fast-evolving digital landscape. If you bring a sharp commercial mindset, a passion for partnership, and a track record of turning complex sourcing challenges into competitive advantages — this is your moment.

 

About the Role

 

As the Leader IT Outsourcing Procurement, you will sit at the heart of Swiss Re's transformation journey, steering the strategic direction of IT Outsourcing procurement across the enterprise. This is a high-impact leadership role where you will shape how Swiss Re engages with its external IT vendor ecosystem — from application development and infrastructure operations to managed IT services. You will be a trusted advisor to IT executive leadership, a champion for procurement excellence, and an inspiring people leader who develops talent and builds capability for the future.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

  • Align the category team strategically to Business and Domain priorities, delivering clear and measurable procurement value
  • Partner with IT leadership to optimize the external vendor mix, rationalize the vendor base, and improve tool and product utilization
  • Own end-to-end sourcing strategy across IT Outsourcing categories — application development & maintenance, infrastructure operations, and IT services Build trusted relationships with business partners and suppliers, leading high-stakes negotiations with confidence
  • Lead and develop the IT Outsourcing Procurement and Sourcing Execution team, driving a culture of accountability and innovation
  • Coordinate with Procurement peers to deliver an enterprise-wide approach that maximizes value and mitigates supply chain risk
  • Define, track and report on KPIs, ensuring transparent delivery against targets for senior stakeholders
  • Embed governance and compliance across all sourcing activities, proactively identifying and managing supply chain risks
  • Drive transformation with an entrepreneurial, outcome-focused mindset, continuously evolving procurement processes
  • Monitor market trends and bring innovative sourcing models and commercial structures to Swiss Re

 

About the Team

 

The IT Outsourcing Procurement team is part of Swiss Re's broader IT & Data Procurement function within the Cost and Procurement department of Global Finance. Our team holds global accountability for end-to-end sourcing activities and the development of Swiss Re's sourcing strategy across IT Outsourcing categories of spend. We are a collaborative, experienced, and results-oriented team that works hand-in-hand with Swiss Re's business partners and through established sourcing networks to execute strategy that delivers real value — optimizing cost, improving quality, and mitigating risk across the supply chain. We are a team that takes pride in being trusted advisors, strategic partners, and agents of positive change within the organization.

 

About You

 

You are a seasoned procurement professional with a proven ability to translate complex IT Outsourcing challenges into pragmatic, business-aligned solutions. You communicate with clarity and confidence — whether engaging with business partners, external suppliers, or executive leadership — and you know how to build trust across all levels of an organization. You lead with purpose, champion continuous improvement, and demonstrate the behaviours that reflect Swiss Re's leadership imperatives: driving sustainable performance, developing people, and delivering outcomes that matter. You bring a collaborative spirit, a solutions-oriented mindset, and the resilience to thrive in a fast-paced, global environment. 

 

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

 

  • 10+ years of IT Outsourcing experience (offshore and nearshore), with strong market knowledge across application development & maintenance, infrastructure operations, and IT services categories
  • Industry experience in insurance, reinsurance, or financial services is required, with the ability to navigate sector-specific regulatory, risk, and compliance considerations in sourcing decisions
  • Demonstrated proficiency in executing pragmatic solutions in close collaboration with business stakeholders, with a track record of advancing business priorities through effective procurement strategies
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with business partners and external suppliers at all levels, including executive leadership
  • Bachelor's degree (minimum) in Business Administration, IT, or a scientific/technical field; CIPS or equivalent professional procurement qualification strongly preferred

 

These are additional nice to haves:

 

  • Demonstrated behaviours consistent with Swiss Re's leadership imperatives, with a particular focus on driving sustainable performance and embedding a culture of continuous improvement
  • Experience working in a global, matrixed organization with exposure to cross-regional sourcing strategies and governance models
  • Familiarity with digital transformation programs and the procurement implications of cloud, AI, and automation-driven IT service delivery
  • Strong financial acumen, including total cost of ownership modelling, business case development, and cost optimization methodologies
  • Additional language skills beyond English (German, French, or other European languages are a plus)
  • Experience with procurement technology platforms and digital sourcing tools (e.g., Coupa, Ariba, or similar) 

 

For Switzerland, the base salary range for this position is between 122,000 CHF and 184,000 CHF for a full-time role. The specific salary offered considers:

 

  • the requirements, scope, complexity and responsibilities of the role
  • the applicant's own profile including education/qualifications, expertise, specialisation, skills and experience 

 

In addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance-based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. Furthermore, you will enjoy a variety of global and location specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract. Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week. 

 

About Swiss Re

 

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

 

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.

 

Keywords:  
Reference Code: 139175 

 

 


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