I’m a business school graduate with a specialisation in Purchasing. I’ve held positions as a purchasing consultant and buyer in several consulting groups. Today, my job is “Group IT Services Buyer”. I work with the buyers of each Group entity, with the Group’s Information Systems Department, and with a very wide range of IT service providers.

How would you describe the position of “Group IT Intellectual Services Buyer”?

My job consists in setting up contracts and monitoring partnerships with IT service providers that can be used by all Crédit Agricole Group entities, and proposing innovations in this area.

There are several objectives: ensure that the skills of these service providers correspond to the Group’s needs, enable the Group to benefit from the innovation provided by our service providers, ensure that the Group has the right contract coverage with these service providers, and negotiate attractive commercial terms.

What are the peak periods of your job during the year?

It depends on the year. However, the periods of call for tenders where we update our lists of service providers are among the most active times of the year.

Can you describe your typical day?

There isn’t really a typical day. Sometimes you work in project mode with deadlines to be met, and there are times when we work on longer-term and more flexible assignments. We try to meet our in-house specifiers and our suppliers as often as possible.

What career path is required to reach your position and what are the possibilities for development?

The standard path is a Business School degree with a specialisation in Purchasing, and then start your career as a junior buyer. Specialising in one or a limited number of purchasing categories is often an advantage.
Sometimes this type of job can be accessed from another job related to the category concerned. For example, if you have worked in an IT department and you are used to interacting with suppliers, you could potentially become an IT/IT services buyer.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking up a similar position?

Buyers stopped being cost-killers long ago! Although their role is obviously to ensure that the company pays the right price, it is also and above all to protect the company from the risks related to working with suppliers, and above all to be a vehicle for innovation, because a company’s innovation is increasingly being driven by its suppliers and service providers.