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- Tasks: Lead sourcing and supplier strategy for fresh produce and ambient food categories.
- Company: Join Reynolds Food Group, a leader in the food industry with a commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, private health insurance, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for international travel.
- Why this job: Shape procurement strategy and make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven procurement leader with experience in food and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire
Salary: Competitive
We're recruiting a Head of Procurement (Produce & Ambient) to lead sourcing, supplier strategy, and commercial performance across one of the most business-critical areas of our operation. This is a high-impact, senior commercial role with ownership of fresh produce at its core, alongside dairy, bakery, chilled, frozen, and ambient food categories. You'll play a pivotal part in securing supply, protecting margins, and building an industry-leading procurement function.
The Role
- Own the end-to-end sourcing strategy across fresh produce, dairy, bakery, chilled, frozen, and ambient categories
- Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team, with clear succession planning
- Manage domestic and global suppliers, growers, processors, and import partners
- Negotiate short, medium, and long-term contracts, driving value, resilience, and continuity of supply
- Balance commercial performance with food safety, ethical, and sustainability standards
- Work cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Technical, Quality, Logistics, Operations, and Sales
- Mitigate risk linked to seasonality, weather, market volatility, and global supply disruption
- Drive margin performance, cost savings, forecast accuracy, waste reduction, and supplier KPIs
What We're Looking For
You'll be a proven procurement leader with:
- Significant senior-level procurement experience within food, with a strong bias to fresh produce
- Multi-category exposure across fresh, chilled, frozen, bakery, dairy, and ambient
- Deep understanding of produce seasonality, global sourcing, and pricing dynamics
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation capability within FMCG
- Experience modernising or transforming procurement functions
- Previous people leadership experience within food or fresh produce
- CIPS or equivalent qualification (desirable)
You'll also bring gravitas, resilience, and the ability to operate calmly in fast-moving, commercially intense environments.
What's on Offer
- Competitive annual salary
- Bonus Scheme
- Car allowance
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Private health insurance, pension, life assurance
- Retail discounts and additional long-service benefits
Working Pattern
- Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week
- Early starts required to align with operational changeovers
- Flexibility during seasonal peaks and international supplier travel (UK & overseas)
If you're a senior procurement professional with deep fresh-produce expertise and ambition to shape strategy at scale, we'd love to hear from you. Reynolds Food Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
Head of Procurement Produce & Ambient employer: Reynolds
Contact Detail:
Reynolds Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Procurement Produce & Ambient
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. We recommend practising common interview questions and having your own questions ready to show your interest and insight into their operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When discussing your experience, focus on specific results you've delivered in previous roles. We want to see how you’ve driven value and performance in procurement – numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Procurement Produce & Ambient
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Procurement role. Highlight your experience in sourcing, supplier strategy, and any relevant achievements in the food sector. 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 explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your procurement successes and how you can drive value and resilience in our supply chain.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a high-performing team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Talk about how you've developed teams in the past and your approach to succession planning. We love seeing strong leaders!
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 the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Reynolds
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the fresh produce, dairy, bakery, chilled, frozen, and ambient categories. Research current market trends, pricing dynamics, and seasonality factors. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to take on the challenges of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led procurement teams in the past. Highlight your experience in developing talent and succession planning. Be ready to discuss how you can foster a high-performing team culture that aligns with the company's goals.
✨Master Negotiation Scenarios
Think about specific negotiation scenarios you've faced and how you navigated them. Be prepared to discuss your approach to driving value and resilience in contracts. This will showcase your strong commercial acumen and ability to handle complex negotiations.
✨Align with Company Values
Research Reynolds Food Group's commitment to food safety, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. Be ready to discuss how you can balance commercial performance with these values. Showing that you understand and align with their mission will set you apart as a candidate.