Head of Procurement at Zola

London, England, United Kingdom

Zola Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Fintech, Banking, FinanceIndustries

Requirements

  • Proven experience leading or shaping a procurement function
  • Deep knowledge of technology procurement and SaaS models
  • Strong commercial and negotiation skills
  • Experience improving procurement maturity through category management, reporting, and business partnering
  • Confidence engaging senior stakeholders and managing external partners
  • Understanding of supplier governance in regulated settings
  • Ideally, exposure to retail or consumer-facing industries
  • Commercially astute, pragmatic, and outcome-focused
  • Growth-minded, collaborative, and clear in communication
  • Tech-curious and passionate about using technology to drive performance

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement a fit-for-purpose procurement strategy and operating model that reflects Zopa’s culture, regulatory environment, and growth ambitions
  • Lead, coach, and develop the procurement team to deliver effective business partnering and build procurement capability across the organisation
  • Drive value and cost efficiency across all spend categories, with emphasis on technology (65%), operations (16%), and commercial (15%): targeting ~10% saving vs budget through smarter buying and supplier management
  • Oversee relationships with key suppliers and Vertice, ensuring we leverage external partnerships effectively
  • Ensure procurement processes align with Zopa’s regulatory obligations and risk framework, while applying proportionality based on supplier risk and contract value
  • Strengthen category management, spend analysis, and reporting to enhance transparency and decision-making
  • Build strong relationships with Technology, Finance, Operations, and Risk functions to ensure procurement adds measurable value across Zopa
  • Introduce data-driven insights, tools, and processes to improve speed, efficiency, and commercial outcomes
  • Lead a team of three and manage around £30m annual spend across 400+ suppliers (65% tech, 16% operations, 15% commercial, plus Finance, HR, and Marketing)
  • Oversee partnership with Vertice, exploring ways to maximise value from SaaS procurement

Skills

Procurement Strategy
Vendor Management
SaaS Procurement
Commercial Negotiation
Governance
Team Leadership
Spend Management
Supplier Management
Strategic Sourcing
Contract Management

Zola

Online wedding planning and registry platform

About Zola

Zola.com is an online platform designed for couples planning their weddings. It offers a variety of services including customizable wedding invitations, venue and vendor recommendations, and a gift registry that allows couples to manage gifts, experiences, and cash funds all in one place. The platform simplifies the wedding planning process by providing tools for managing guest lists, tracking RSVPs, and meal selections. Zola stands out from competitors by allowing couples to exchange gifts for credit before they are shipped, enhancing the gift-giving experience. The company generates revenue through commissions from vendors and venues booked through its platform, as well as from the sale of wedding-related products. Zola's goal is to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for engaged couples, making wedding planning easier and more organized.

New York City, New YorkHeadquarters
2013Year Founded
$164.6MTotal Funding
SERIES_DCompany Stage
Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries
201-500Employees

Benefits

Hybrid Work Options
Flexible Work Hours

Risks

Emerging platforms offering similar services at lower costs threaten Zola's market share.
Economic downturns may reduce spending on weddings, impacting Zola's revenue.
Expansion into baby registries may dilute Zola's brand focus on weddings.

Differentiation

Zola offers a unique AI tool to balance wedding planning decisions.
Zola's comprehensive platform includes customizable invitations and vendor recommendations.
Zola's guest list management tool streamlines RSVP tracking and meal selections.

Upsides

Zola's AI tool aligns with the trend of integrating AI in wedding planning.
The rise of micro-weddings creates demand for Zola's tailored services.
Zola's digital marketing can leverage increased social media use for wedding planning.

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