At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategy and build a high-performing team in a growing business.
- Company: Dynamic building products company focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Stable long-term position with opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape impactful procurement strategies and drive significant cost improvements.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior procurement roles and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll shape and deliver a high-impact procurement strategy for a growing building products business. This is an opportunity to own the full procurement agenda, drive significant cost and value improvements, and build a high-performing team in a stable, long-term position.
About the Role: As Head of Procurement, you will lead the end-to-end procurement function, covering strategic sourcing, category management and supplier relationship management across all building products and related spend. You will set the procurement vision, develop robust category strategies, and ensure contracts and supplier partnerships support the company’s commercial, operational, and quality objectives. Working closely with senior leadership, you will influence key decisions, optimise total cost of ownership, and embed best practice across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a cohesive purchasing strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans for building products and associated categories.
- Lead and manage the purchasing team, setting clear goals, coaching for performance, and building capability across strategic sourcing and category management.
- Drive strategic sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, supplier selection, tendering, and negotiation to secure optimal value, quality, and risk profile.
- Own category management plans, including demand forecasting, supplier segmentation, contract lifecycle planning, and continuous improvement of category performance.
- Lead complex contract negotiations, ensuring robust terms on pricing, service levels, warranties, and risk allocation, in collaboration with legal and key stakeholders.
- Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships, monitoring performance, resolving issues, and fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
- Implement and refine procurement policies, processes, and governance, ensuring compliance with internal controls and relevant regulations.
- Provide regular reporting and insight on procurement performance, savings, risks, and opportunities to the senior leadership team.
Key Requirements:
- Proven experience in a senior procurement role with responsibility for strategy, sourcing, and category management, ideally within building products or a related sector.
- Demonstrable track record of leading and developing procurement teams, including setting direction, managing performance, and driving engagement.
- Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, including running RFPs, supplier evaluation, and total cost of ownership analysis.
- Advanced contract negotiation skills with experience managing complex, high-value supplier agreements.
- Solid understanding of category management principles and their practical application across multiple spend areas.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data, build business cases, and influence senior stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across operations, finance, and leadership teams.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities, and delivering to deadlines.
Desirable Skills:
- Experience within the construction, manufacturing, or building materials sector.
- Familiarity with ERP and e-procurement systems and data analytics tools for spend analysis and supplier performance tracking.
- Experience implementing or improving procurement governance frameworks and policies.
- Exposure to sustainability, ESG, or responsible sourcing initiatives within procurement.
- Background in multi-site or multi-business-unit environments.
Qualifications:
- Degree-level education in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, or a related discipline.
- Professional procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS or equivalent) or working towards this.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development in procurement, negotiation, or leadership.
If you are a strategic, commercially minded procurement leader ready to take ownership of a key function and build a high-performing team, we’d like to hear from you.
Head of Purchasing employer: Elevation Recruitment Group
Join a dynamic and forward-thinking building products company that prioritises employee development and fosters a collaborative work culture. As the Head of Purchasing, you will not only lead a high-performing team but also have access to ongoing professional growth opportunities and a stable work environment that values innovation and strategic thinking. With a focus on driving cost efficiencies and supplier relationships, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in a thriving sector.
Contact Details:
Elevation Recruitment Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Purchasing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their procurement strategies and challenges in the building products sector. This way, we can show them how our skills align perfectly with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. We want to be ready to impress when it’s our turn to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who can help us drive our procurement vision forward.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Purchasing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Head of Purchasing. Highlight your experience in procurement strategy, team leadership, and supplier management. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about procurement and how you can drive value for our building products business. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a pivotal leader, we need to see your ability to manage and develop teams. Share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and driven engagement in your previous roles. We love a good success story!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Elevation Recruitment Group
✨Know Your Procurement Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the company's current procurement strategy and how it aligns with their business objectives. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance or adapt this strategy based on your experience in strategic sourcing and category management.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and developing procurement teams. Discuss specific instances where you've set clear goals, coached team members, and driven engagement to build a high-performing team.
✨Master Contract Negotiation Scenarios
Be prepared to discuss complex contract negotiations you've led in the past. Highlight your advanced negotiation skills by sharing specific outcomes, such as improved pricing or service levels, and how you managed stakeholder collaboration during these processes.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Brush up on your ability to interpret data and build compelling business cases. During the interview, be ready to discuss how you've used data analytics tools for spend analysis and supplier performance tracking to influence senior stakeholders and drive procurement decisions.
