Head of Procurement in Leeds

The PA is a beacon of trust for news, content and data.

At the heart of our group is the Press Association, the UK and Ireland’s national news agency, trusted for its impartiality, accuracy and speed for more than 150 years. We bring these standards to everything we do, from news and sports data to content creation and communications.

We’re combining AI and emerging technology with the expertise, judgement and originality of our people; helping us work smarter, explore new ideas and create greater value for our customers.

Now, we’re beginning an exciting new chapter at West Village in Leeds city centre and looking for talented people to help shape what comes next.

The opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Procurement to lead and transform our Group procurement function.

Reporting directly to our CFO and leading a team of six, this is an opportunity to shape how Procurement partners with the business: moving beyond traditional, process-led procurement towards a proactive, commercially focused business-partnering model that influences decisions and creates measurable value.

You’ll develop our Group procurement strategy, strengthen the capability of the team and build trusted relationships with senior leaders across the organisation. Technology is a significant area of spend and transformation for The PA, so previous experience of technology procurement is essential, although your wider industry background is less important.

You’ll also be our Global Process Owner for Procure-to-Pay, with the scope to simplify processes, strengthen controls and make better use of SAP S/4HANA, automation and technology.

This is a broad and influential role with the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on Procurement at The PA.

What you’ll do

• Lead and develop our Procurement team, building its capability as a commercially focused and credible business partner.
• Develop and deliver a Group-wide procurement strategy aligned with our commercial and operational priorities.
• Partner with senior leaders and budget holders, providing commercial insight and constructively challenging requirements, spend and supplier decisions.
• Lead strategic procurement across key areas of spend, including technology, delivering sustainable savings, cost avoidance and working-capital improvements.
• Strengthen our approach to strategic sourcing, negotiation, supplier relationship management and contract management.
• Improve visibility and control of third-party spend, contractual commitments, supplier performance and commercial risk.
• Own the end-to-end global Procure-to-Pay process, driving simplification, automation, stronger controls and systems development.
• Build effective cross-functional relationships across Procurement, Finance, Technology and our operating businesses.
• Oversee our corporate insurance renewal and Group travel arrangements.

What you’ll bring

• Significant procurement and commercial leadership experience, ideally including leading Procurement Business Partners or developing a business-partnering model.
• A track record of transforming or evolving a procurement function to become more commercially focused, proactive and influential.
• Strong technology procurement experience, with the credibility to partner effectively with Technology leaders and navigate complex technology spend and supplier relationships.
• Evidence of delivering measurable commercial value through strategic sourcing, negotiation, supplier management and contract management.
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge, influence and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing a high-performing procurement team.
• A strong understanding of end-to-end Procure-to-Pay and experience of improving people, processes and systems.
• Experience of SAP S/4HANA, workflow automation and electronic invoicing.

Experience as a Global Process Owner, supporting acquisitions or integrations, or managing corporate insurance would be an advantage. Your sector background is less important to us than your ability to transform Procurement, build strong business partnerships and bring credible technology procurement experience.

What we offer

• 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, with a holiday purchase scheme.
• A yearly Wellbeing Day and eight hours of paid volunteering time.
• Pension, life assurance, Wellhub access, learning opportunities and a Bupa Health Cash Plan through salary sacrifice.
• A modern workplace at West Village in the heart of Leeds city centre, just a seven-minute walk from Leeds station.
• Rooftop terraces, collaborative spaces, a wellness studio, showers and extensive cycle storage.
• Exclusive discounts across Leeds, including offers on food and drink, fitness, entertainment and accommodation.

This is a hybrid role, minimum three days a week from our Leeds office, with travel to London Paddington as required.

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PA Media

PA Media Group Values

PA Media Group is committed to inspiring a positive culture and a work environment of Openness, Honesty and Transparency. We are owned by PA Group, the leading content and data business and align with their values of Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity and Respect.

We’re building and promoting a culture where difference is valued and everyone can be the best version of themselves and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether or not they have a disability.

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