Head of External Data Vendor Management - London

Company:

Oliver Wyman

Description:

Help shape how Oliver Wyman turns external data, research and expertise into competitive advantage.

As Head of External Data Vendor Management, you will lead the strategy for our portfolio of external data and expert vendors—shaping investment, governance, partnerships and adoption across the firm.

With AI transforming how consultants discover and use information, you will have a significant opportunity to ensure our investments translate into better insights, smarter decisions and greater impact for our clients.

Why Join Us

• Shape firm-wide strategy: Define how Oliver Wyman invests in and derives value from external data, research and expert partnerships.

• Lead at the intersection of data, commercial strategy and AI: Explore emerging and AI-enabled capabilities that can transform how our consultants discover, access and use external knowledge.

• Make a measurable impact: Take a strategic view of firm-wide investment, vendor performance, adoption and ROI—finding new ways to unlock greater value from our portfolio.

• Work across the firm: Partner with senior stakeholders across Knowledge Services, consulting teams, Technology, Procurement, Legal, Risk and business leadership.

• Lead and develop a talented team: Set the vision for a team operating across multiple locations, creating an environment of collaboration, accountability and continuous development.

Meet The Team:

Reports to: Key member of the Knowledge Services Executive Team

Day-to-day collaborators: Knowledge Services, Finance, Procurement, Legal, Risk, Practice and Capability Heads

People management: You will lead a team of approximately 5–7 people across multiple locations.

How This Role Will Contribute To Team Success

• Ensure our consultants have access to the external data, research and expertise they need to deliver high-quality insights and outcomes for clients.

• Lead the commercial agenda for our external data portfolio, controlling firm-wide spend, demonstrating measurable ROI and continually increasing the value generated from our investments.

• Drive enterprise-wide adoption as AI-enabled search expands access beyond specialist users—owning the critical “final mile” that turns technology and data investment into consultant adoption and client impact.

Your Day-To-Day

Shape vendor strategy, governance and partnerships
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for Oliver Wyman’s external data vendor portfolio. Evaluate providers against our consulting needs, establish effective governance and SLAs, and build strategic, long-term vendor relationships.

Unlock value through data, adoption and technology
Identify new opportunities to derive value from vendor data and integrate external sources into our frameworks and methodologies. Explore emerging technologies and AI-enabled capabilities that improve how consultants discover, access and use external data, research and knowledge.

Drive commercial performance
Manage external data procurement budgets, analyse spending and vendor performance, and identify opportunities to improve value and service. Establish meaningful metrics and KPIs that demonstrate performance and ROI and enable better investment decisions.

Lead and develop the team
Coach and develop a team of professionals, setting a clear strategic direction and high standards for delivery, accountability and impact while fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional growth.

Be a trusted senior advisor
Partner with senior stakeholders to align external data strategy with broader organisational priorities. Provide insight on vendor strategy, market developments and emerging capabilities, and represent Oliver Wyman in relevant external forums and industry events.

Skills & What You Bring To The Team

• Significant leadership experience: At least eight years of progressively senior experience within External Data, Research, Knowledge or Information Services, including enterprise-scale responsibility for vendor portfolios, investment strategy and commercial outcomes.

• Strategic and commercial judgement: A strong track record of evaluating investments, analysing spend and vendor performance, demonstrating ROI and turning complex information into clear decisions.

• Transformation and adoption: Demonstrated success evaluating and integrating emerging and AI-enabled capabilities and driving adoption across a large, complex organisation.

• Leadership: Experience building, managing and developing high-performing teams while creating a collaborative and accountable environment.

• Influence: The ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders, navigate competing priorities and build alignment across functions and teams.

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience within consulting or professional services

• Strategic thinking around vendor portfolio management

• Practical AI activation experience, combined with creative thinking about the future of vendor and information management

• A track record of setting a clear strategic vision and bringing a team with you

Living Our Values

At Oliver Wyman, we lead with heart – we love what we do and have fun while we do it. We strive for breakthroughs by seeking diverse perspectives and finding powerful and sustainable solutions. We work as one, own our impact, be brave and achieve the amazing together.

We’re committed to building a diverse team, and we know that uncertainty about meeting every qualification can sometimes deter talented people from applying. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe you could make an impact in this role, we’d still love to hear from you.

If you require adjustments during the recruitment process, we are happy to discuss these with you.

Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit oliverwyman.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X. 

Marsh is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age background, civil partnership status, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments in accordance with applicable law to any candidate with a disability to allow them to fully participate in the recruitment process. If you have a disability that may require reasonable adjustments, please contact us at reasonableaccommodations@marsh.com.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.