Isabella Burnham
Congleton,Cheshire
Summary
Commercially driven procurement professional with 8+ years’ experience delivering strategic sourcing and procurement across technology, automotive, manufacturing and highly regulated environments. Currently a Business Applications Technology Sourcing Manager (Assistant Vice President) at Barclays, with strong expertise in strategic sourcing, commercial negotiation, supplier management and third-party spend optimisation. Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional stakeholders, identify cost-saving opportunities and develop sourcing strategies that deliver commercial value, operational efficiency and strong supplier outcomes.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work history
Business Applications Technology Sourcing Manager
Barclays
Knutsford, Cheshire East
2026.01 - Current
- Lead strategic sourcing and commercial activity across Business Applications technology spend, managing third-party suppliers and complex procurement requirements.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies based on spend analysis, business requirements, market intelligence and commercial opportunities.
- Partner with senior Technology and business stakeholders to define requirements, shape sourcing approaches and deliver strategic procurement solutions.
- Lead end-to-end RFP/RFX processes, including market engagement, supplier evaluation, commercial analysis, negotiation and contract award.
- Drive complex supplier negotiations, challenging pricing, commercial models and contractual terms to maximise value and optimise third-party spend.
- Provide commercial insight and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders, influencing decisions across complex technology sourcing projects.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, demand management and buying-channel improvements across Business Applications categories.
- Ensure sourcing activity meets Barclays’ risk, governance, regulatory and control requirements throughout the procurement lifecycle.
- Manage commercial and supplier risk, strengthening controls while balancing business requirements, value, speed and compliance.
- Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives, using market and data analysis to identify opportunities, improve processes and deliver sustainable commercial outcomes.
Senior Buyer - ICT
Sellafield
Warrington
2023.03 - 2026.01
- Responsible for 280 public contracts and procurments for the applications sub category.
- Review renewal contracts and discuss these with business users and other internal departments.
- Conduct a weekly data cleanse via Atamis to review current contracts and to ensure they are still required by the company or benefit the company if no longer in use.
- Use Atamis on a daily basis for contract management, plan procurement pipeline and view the end to end procurement for Software renewals.
- Use G-Cloud 14 to purchase cloud based computing services.
- Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures in all buying activities.
- Maintain strong working relationships with suppliers and vendors to obtain favourable contract terms.
- Maintain budget adherence with strict commercial and contract management ensuring contracts remain within headroom and sanction limits.
- Facilitate extra training sessions for new staff members on contract management procedures, frameworks used by the organisation and internal systems such as ATAMIS.
- Assess ongoing performance of suppliers, leading to better contract management.
- Deliver tasks within tight deadlines.
Strategic Buyer
Bentley Motors
Crewe, Cheshire East
2022.02 - 2022.12
- Buyer for Connectors, Battery Wiring, Central Electrics, HV/PHEV Cables, Audio and Harnesses for all of Bentley Car models.
- Captured and assessed supply chain risks and opportunities using ERP tools, methodologies, analyse financial risks and target new business through interactive monitoring systems.
- Purchased over £6 million in electrical commodity products.
- Made 40 global annual buying trips to preview new items, make purchases, develop and improve account relationships.
- Managed vendor purchase order dispatch, delivery and invoicing to set contractual guidelines and maintain budgetary regulations.
- Stay up-to-date on electrical codes and safety procedures to maintain efficiency.
- Advised on system and equipment upgrade requirements to meet business output demands.
- Optimised approaches to new projects by analysing blueprints, drawings and sketches.
- Assisted with staff development by implementing effective, hands-on training programmes for new employees, maximising performance and engagement.
Strategic Buyer
Siemens
Congleton
2020.01 - 2022.02
- Responsible and manage 78 suppliers by using KPI metrics to measure performance, this includes Fans, Switches, Fuses, Fasteners, Screws, Documentation & Labels strategic commodities.
- Forecasted demand levels through SAP and Celonis to inform purchase decisions and optimised workflow by maintaining inventory at operational levels using.
- Provide continuous improvement actions and organise improvement workshops for both internal and external parties.
- Early involvement of suppliers in design process.
- Investigated and resolved supply chain issues through root cause analysis project.
- Implemented effective contractual terms, conditions and commercial claims with Supply Chain representatives.
- Reduced product damage in shipping processes by 35% through effective risk management.
- Develop strategic sourcing plans, including “make/buy” decisions and adequate risk assessment.
- Method of Supply (Schedules, Kanban, Consigned Stock) Engineering Projects.
Strategic Buyer
Siemens
Erlangen, Germany
2019.02 - 2019.08
- Leverage supplier expertise.
- Took responsibility for activities such as change control, managing contractual obligations, risk management, measurement and delivering to required performance standard.
- Consistently liaising, negotiating and undertaking proactive actions with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of Negotiation Tracker Service, taking appropriate actions to address any shortfalls or excess.
- Confidently display supplier/customer relationship management skills with a range of stakeholders, keeping key stakeholders and customers appropriately informed.
- Sourced Supplier 7% cheaper for Negotiation Tracker Tool than previous averages through keeping potential suppliers appropriately informed, captured and assessed all potential supply chain risk and opportunities.
Head of Purchasing - Junior factory
Siemens
Congleton
2018.01 - 2019.09
- Overall responsibility for Purchasing and Cost Estimating activities across site.
- Created and implemented best practice purchasing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve business performance.
- Contributed to overall business strategy and annual budget process.
Indirect Buyer
Siemens
Congleton
2017.09 - 2020.12
- Assure effective procurement of all goods and services in line with division processes, e.g. Demand approval, supplier approval, invoice queries and spend analysis.
- Negotiate with international supplier base and negotiate to maximise cost savings and deliver on annual cost saving KPIs.
- Evaluated Brexit challenges faced by Siemens and took action to mitigate risks and develop opportunities.
- Participated in effective cost improvement and digitalisation program for procurement systems.
- Ensured that purchasing strategies and processes were in place to meet business objectives and operational needs in terms of price, quality and delivery targets to function and compete effectively in current market to include, Terms and conditions, supplier selection/de-selection.
- Team of 2 to purchase all of Indirect for 400 employees producing more than one million drives and controls per year.
Sales Agent
Toucan Telemarketing Ltd
Congleton
2016.01 - 2016.07
- Focused tightly on B2B target area, niche markets and overall business ambitions to underpin future direct telemarketing campaigns.
- Delivered excellent face to face customer service in all customer contact situations.
- Built B2B outbound telemarketing campaigns that delivered ongoing pipeline of new business opportunities and best possible return on investment for them.
- Handled customer complaints with professionalism and confidence.
Education
Level 4 - Business Administration and Management
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire06.2018
A - Levels - Business, Law, Photography
South Cheshire College
Crewe, Cheshire East05.2017
14 GCSE'S A*-B - 14 GCSE'S A*-B
Congleton high school
Congleton, Cheshire East06.2014
Skills
- E-Procurement systems
- Knowledge of ISO standards
- Proficient in SAP
- Strategic & Global Sourcing
- IT & Technology Procurement
- Category Management
- End-to-End RFP / RFX Management
- Commercial & Supplier Negotiation
- Contract Management & Drafting
- Supplier & Vendor Management
- Supplier Performance Management
- Stakeholder Management & Influencing
- Spend Analysis & Cost Optimisation
- Procurement Strategy & Process Improvement
- Risk, Governance & Compliance
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Market Research & Data Analysis
- Systems Implementation
- CCS & HealthTrust Europe Frameworks
- G-Cloud 14 & Public Contract Regulations (PCR 2015 & PA23)
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with Bentleys supply chain in the development of Bentley's first electric luxury vehicle.
- The main organiser since 2018 for Supplier Day, over 300 suppliers get invited to this annual event.
- Implemented a vending machine project on the shop floor to reduce floor space and inventory control this lead to a saving of £17K.
- A key player in the 2020 Ventilator UK Challenge to achieve its target of producing 13,500 medical devices in just 12 weeks for the NHS during the first wave of the pandemic.
- Main buyer for the Artificial Intelligent Packaging System and Tool Failure Project on the Factory floor. We improved efficiency of our business by 40%, optimise staffing as well as safety, inventory control, improve the designs and consistency.
- Part of a Global MC Procurement Team to create and launch a Negotiation tracker to fill in their yearly negotiation so all locations can be analysed through one system.
- English -Native proficiency
- German - Professional Working Proficiency
- Spanish- Limited Working Proficiency
Timeline
Business Applications Technology Sourcing Manager
Barclays
2026.01 - Current
Senior Buyer - ICT
Sellafield
2023.03 - 2026.01
Strategic Buyer
Bentley Motors
2022.02 - 2022.12
Strategic Buyer
Siemens
2020.01 - 2022.02
Strategic Buyer
Siemens
2019.02 - 2019.08
Head of Purchasing - Junior factory
Siemens
2018.01 - 2019.09
Indirect Buyer
Siemens
2017.09 - 2020.12
Sales Agent
Toucan Telemarketing Ltd
2016.01 - 2016.07
Level 4 - Business Administration and Management
Newcastle-Under-Lyme College
A - Levels - Business, Law, Photography
South Cheshire College
14 GCSE'S A*-B - 14 GCSE'S A*-B
Congleton high school