At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing and supplier management for RS PRO across EMEA, driving strategic partnerships and product excellence.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at RS PRO, a leader in innovative sourcing solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a chance to shape global sourcing strategies.
- Other info: Collaborate globally and champion the use of AI to enhance sourcing efficiency.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on product and customer outcomes while leading a high-performance team.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in sourcing, negotiation skills, and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
You will be accountable for leading the sourcing and supplier management function for RS PRO across the EMEA region, managing a growing, and geographically dispersed team of Sourcing and Supplier Managers. You'll oversee a portfolio of suppliers across multiple technologies, ensuring product quality, service excellence, commercial performance, and strong long-term partnerships. You will shape the EMEA sourcing strategy, accelerate new product introduction (NPI), optimise supplier engagement models, and drive commercial improvements that elevate the RS PRO proposition globally. This role also partners closely with APAC and Americas teams to create a unified global sourcing strategy. This position is ideal for an experienced sourcing, category, or supplier management leader who wants to take ownership of a growing, strategically important supplier ecosystem and make a meaningful impact on product, customer and commercial outcomes.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop the EMEA sourcing and supplier management team, building a high-performance culture focused on outcomes and accountability.
- Own and execute the EMEA sourcing strategy, ensuring alignment to global RS PRO growth plans and product roadmap ambitions.
- Supplier & Commercial Management
- Manage and optimise a diverse portfolio of suppliers, including onboarding, performance management, and development of long-term strategic partnerships.
- Implement and embed a supplier segmentation and scorecard framework to drive data‐led prioritisation and improved performance visibility.
- Own forecasting, reporting and strategy for margin management, including raw materials, inflation, cost-to-serve and supply chain risks.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Category Management, Quality, Brand, Business Development and global sourcing teams to deliver a seamless and market‐leading RS PRO product offering.
- Strengthen collaboration with RS branded supplier management teams to ensure a complementary offering across categories.
- NPI & Innovation
- Drive process improvements to reduce NPI cycle time from discovery to launch.
- Act as a key scout for new product opportunities, emerging technologies and supplier innovations.
- Risk, Resilience & Governance
- Monitor geopolitical, commercial, sustainability and supply chain risks, ensuring mitigation plans are in place.
- Ensure ethical, compliant and responsible sourcing aligned with RS Group standards.
- Technology & Ways of Working
- Champion the use of AI and digital tools to improve speed, productivity and decision‐making within the sourcing function.
- Build and standardise processes and operating models that scale across EMEA.
Qualifications
- Strong experience in sourcing, buying or supplier management within industrial or adjacent product categories.
- Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating supplier, geopolitical, and supply chain risks across multiple regions.
- Strong negotiation skills, with experience shaping contracts, commercial terms and long‐term supplier agreements.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organisational or process change, driving adoption of new ways of working across teams.
- Demonstrable commercial acumen with experience in cost modelling, forecasting, and margin optimisation.
- Understanding of ethical sourcing, compliance requirements, and responsible supplier practices across global markets.
- Strong analytical, problem‐solving and data‐interpretation capability.
- Ability to operate autonomously, make decisions in ambiguity and balance long‐term strategy with day‐to‐day execution.
- Experience designing and embedding processes, systems or operating models.
- Excellent cross‐functional collaboration, stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Leadership experience fostering high performance, coaching, and cultural alignment.
RS PRO Head of Sourcing and Supplier Management in Corby employer: RS Group
At RS PRO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a high-performance culture and prioritises employee development. Our collaborative work environment encourages innovation and strategic thinking, allowing you to make a meaningful impact across the EMEA region while enjoying competitive benefits and growth opportunities. Join us to lead a dynamic team in shaping the future of sourcing and supplier management, all while being part of a globally recognised brand committed to excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land RS PRO Head of Sourcing and Supplier Management in Corby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend relevant 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 culture. We suggest practising common interview questions and tailoring your answers to highlight your experience in sourcing and supplier management. Show them you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. We recommend mentioning something specific from the interview to make it personal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. Let’s get you that job!
We think you need these skills to ace RS PRO Head of Sourcing and Supplier Management in Corby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in sourcing and supplier management, especially in EMEA. We want to see how your skills align 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 this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be specific about your achievements in managing suppliers and driving commercial improvements.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've built high-performance cultures and coached teams to success. We love seeing that kind of initiative!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at RS Group
✨Know Your Sourcing Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into RS PRO's sourcing strategy and understand how it aligns with global growth plans. Be ready to discuss how you would shape and execute this strategy, showcasing your experience in leading sourcing functions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've developed high-performance teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you coached team members to achieve their goals, as this role requires strong team management.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Brush up on your knowledge of margin management, cost modelling, and supplier negotiations. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully managed supplier portfolios and driven commercial improvements in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
This position involves working closely with various teams. Prepare to share experiences where you've effectively collaborated across departments, particularly in driving new product introductions or managing supplier relationships.
