Lead, EMEA Indirect Procurement - London, United Kingdom
Position Overview
Ref #
W
State/Region
London
Department
Finance
Location
United Kingdom
City
London
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.
At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Lead, EMEA Indirect Procurement reports to the Head of Indirect Procurement and is accountable for leading the EMEA indirect procurement organization. This role sets the regional procurement strategy, leads and develops the team, and serves as the senior procurement advisor to business leaders across EMEA.
As a member of the Procurement leadership team, you will also help advance the function by strengthening capabilities, supporting evolving operating models and partnering across regions to identify opportunities that can create broader enterprise value - building trusted executive relationships, shape priorities and influence decisions by bringing strong commercial insight, market intelligence and a clear understanding of business objectives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead, coach and develop the EMEA procurement team, setting clear priorities and building the capabilities required for a high-performing function.
Act as the senior procurement advisor to EMEA leaders, building trusted relationships and positioning Procurement for early involvement in strategic decisions.
Develop and execute the EMEA procurement strategy, translating regional business priorities into category strategies, sourcing plans and measurable outcomes.
Provide clear commercial insight, market intelligence and recommendations that influence decisions and improve business outcomes.
Drive measurable value through savings, cost avoidance, demand management, supplier performance, innovation and risk mitigation.
Partner with procurement colleagues across regions to identify opportunities to leverage spend, suppliers, expertise and leading practices more broadly.
Play a key role in advancing procurement capabilities, governance and ways of working, including supporting the team through enterprise process and technology changes.
Provide strategic oversight of sourcing, negotiations and key supplier relationships while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and applicable requirements.
Support adoption of global procurement processes, policies, systems and ways of working across the EMEA team.
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
10+ full strategic cycles of progressive procurement or strategic sourcing experience, including significant indirect procurement responsibility.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing an indirect procurement team.
Proven success building trusted relationships with senior business leaders and influencing decision-making across functions.
Experience setting procurement or category strategy and translating business priorities into measurable outcomes.
Experience operating within an organization that balances regional accountability with global or cross-regional collaboration.
Strong business acumen, executive presence, negotiation, communication and change leadership skills.
Deep expertise in at least one major indirect spend area and the ability to provide strategic leadership across a broad portfolio, ideally including Corporate & Professional Services, Technology & Digital, Architecture & Design, or Supply Chain & Distribution.
Experience in retail, luxury, consumer products or another multinational environment preferred.
Strong leadership skills with a history of developing high-performing teams.
Excellent negotiation skills and a deep understanding of market dynamics.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence, engage, to build consensus in diverse stakeholders at all levels.
Deep commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and sustainability practices.
Experience in integrating ESG criteria into procurement policies and supplier selection preferred.
Lead, EMEA Indirect Procurement - London employer: Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion while providing exciting career opportunities within a globally recognised lifestyle brand. Employees enjoy a competitive benefits package, generous discounts, and the chance to bring their authentic selves to work, all within an environment that prioritises client engagement and personal growth.
