869: The Modern Operating Model: Building a Lean, High-Value Procurement Team W/ Stephen Rauf

"Don't overvalue the top procurement spot, and don't undervalue the tools and the budget required. It's an ecosystem." - Stephen Rauf, Global Head of Indirect Procurement, Zoetis

Delivering more value with fewer resources is an easy thing to want, but tough to execute consistently over time… unless procurement rethinks their entire approach, from operating model and team structure to technology and stakeholder influence.

In this episode, Philip Ideson speaks with Stephen Rauf, Global Head of Indirect Procurement at Zoetis, the world's leading animal health company. Stephen unpacks how he has steered a lean, high-impact team through transformation, why "build vs. buy" is a weekly question, and what it takes to create true business partnership – while surfacing next-gen use cases for AI. 

In this episode, Stephen shares his point of view on:

-Building nimble procurement teams that can punch above their weight

-Moving from managing spend to shaping demand with stakeholders

-Using tech – and especially AI – to enable rather than overwhelm

-Deciding when to build internal strength vs. partnering for expertise

-Measuring a broader spectrum of procurement value, not just cost savings

Links:

Stephen Rauf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenrauf/ 

Subscribe to the AOP Newsletter: https://resources.artofprocurement.com/art-of-procurement-podcast-subscribe 

Subscribe to Art of Procurement on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofProcurement