At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing and supplier management for RS PRO across EMEA, driving strategic partnerships and product quality.
- Company: Join RS PRO, a leader in innovative industrial solutions with a focus on collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that champions innovation and ethical sourcing practices.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on global sourcing strategies and product offerings.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in sourcing, strong negotiation skills, and leadership capabilities.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Location: Corby, ENG, GB, NN17 5JF; London, ENG, GB, N1C 4AG; Manchester, ENG, GB, M2 3AA.
Brand: RS Pro
Work Location: Hybrid
The Opportunity
You will be accountable for leading the sourcing and supplier management function for RS PRO across the EMEA region, managing a growing, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
What we are looking for from you:
- 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: Rsgroup
At RS PRO, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture. With a hybrid work model based in Corby, London, and Manchester, we offer our employees the flexibility to thrive while leading a high-performance team in sourcing and supplier management across the EMEA region. Our commitment to professional development, coupled with a focus on innovation and collaboration, ensures that every team member has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and grow within a globally recognised brand.
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 local 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 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, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. 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 is tailored to the Head of Sourcing and Supplier Management role. Highlight your experience in sourcing, supplier management, and any relevant achievements that align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to RS PRO!
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 leadership experience and how you've driven commercial improvements in previous positions. Let us know why you're excited about joining RS PRO!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data interpretation and risk management, make sure to highlight your analytical skills in your application. Provide examples of how you've used data to make informed decisions or improve processes in your past roles. We love data-driven decision-makers!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts and let us know why you’d be a great addition to our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rsgroup
✨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 your experience can contribute to shaping and executing this strategy effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've developed high-performance teams in the past. Discuss specific instances where you’ve coached team members to achieve their goals, as this role requires strong team management.
✨Understand Supplier Management
Brush up on your knowledge of supplier management best practices, including performance management and long-term partnerships. Be prepared to share your approach to onboarding suppliers and optimising their performance through data-led strategies.
✨Be Ready for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think about how you've successfully collaborated with other departments in previous roles. Prepare to discuss how you would partner with Category Management, Quality, and Business Development teams to enhance RS PRO's product offering.
