Logistics Procurement Analyst Review

My role as a Logistics Procurement Analyst was to manage the North American Truckload Contract Separation Project. This involved drafting contract templates, negotiating terms and conditions with suppliers, facilitating tenders, conducting proposal analysis and presenting your recommendations to senior stakeholders. As my placement was managed by a manager based in the US - I worked entirely remotely. Therefore, you must be resilient and organized to self manage yourself as difference time zones means limited communication.

During my placement year, I have learnt to be more independent and diligent in my work as I had ownership over the contract separation project where I was responsible for executing 52 truckload carrier contracts. My manager often allowed me to have free reign to bring new ideas and solutions to the table. Being someone quite conflict averse, I learnt to be more assertive via email and discussions to add value and achieve an optimal outcome for all.

My manager thankfully was very proactive in my career development. He often asked if I felt like I was lacking exposure to any areas of development I would like to touch up on. He also connected me to others of the business outside Procurement to explore other career paths. Additionally, IP Unite who are a team of industrial placement students who organize opportunities to get involved in extra curricular activities set up an initiative to be paired with a more senior colleague to act as a mentor. My mentor happened to be someone in Procurement and we had weekly discussions about my weaknesses and strength as well as networking opportunities to explore different paths to grow.

At the start of my placement, I felt communication was kind of short. If it had been communicated to me before my placement that I was to work remotely entirely I would not have moved to London and paid rent to sit in my bedroom and work. Additionally, onboarding during COVID was quite disorganized as there was no structure from managers how to introduce Industrial Placement Students to the company. Some students had more guidance than others. Me for instance didn't have a site pass or tour until 4 months after my placement which was frustrating as other placement students had an advantage to network and familiarize themselves ahead of me.

GSK is the first company I have worked for so this is probably bias but their culture is like no other. There is no hierarchical structure. The open plan space in the office means you could bbe sitting next to a VP and having a normal conversation with them and learn so much - eliminating the superior inferior complex you would expect in an office. Additionally, everyone is just so lovely and keen to help. Whether that is career advice, general concerns or just a chat. What helps is everyone is driven by the same common purpose - serving the patients. GSK also has an initiative of Orange days. These are voluntary days you can take on paid leave to volunteer for GSK partnered Charity. I did this with Over the Wall and it is the best thing I have volunteered for to do date.

Working at GSK has exceeded my expectations. Having other friends and family members working for other corporates you usually hear complaints of exhaustion or underappreciated. However, at GSK your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. You are encouraged to be ambitious and ask for more opportunities or provide feedback. What is even better is you do not always have initiate the conversations, teams and leaders will ask for honesty and transparency as they are really invested to be better.

Yes

Be brave. Put yourself out there. Once you introduce yourself to others and participate in group outings, projects and extra curricular activities - you meet so many different people and can learn so much from them. Not everyone has had an easy sail to the top. Sacrifies and compromises were made but it all worked out in the end. Hearing such stories as a woman, a student and ethnic minority. It is inspiring to speak to so many inspiring figure on the off chance.