Head of Procurement - Argos in London

Argos is entering an exciting new chapter and we're building a dedicated Argos Procurement team from the ground up, looking for two Heads of Procurement to shape it. Procurement will be central to how Argos competes, controls costs and invests for the future. With spend over £500m, this is a rare chance to bring a start-up mindset to an established business to set the procurement strategy, build the team and make a visible difference from day one. The role is based in London or Coventry, with hybrid working – typically two days a week in the office on average.

As one of two Heads of Procurement, you'll own a portfolio of categories end to end. These range from the specialist areas at the heart of Argos: technology, digital, logistics, marketing, property, professional services and retail. Reporting to the Director of Finance, you'll be a key part of the procurement leadership for the Argos business. You'll be its commercial eyes and ears: keeping leadership informed, building their understanding of procurement, and advising and challenging senior colleagues so that commercial strategies strike the right balance of cost, quality and service. Your early focus will be getting to grips with the cost base and setting out a clear, creative pathway to reduce it. You'll deliver value that has commercial benefit to the business. Alongside setting the Procurement Strategy, you'll build and lead a team of Procurement Managers and Buyers. You'll set the direction and destination for the function and develop your people as the team grows. You'll lead complex sourcing projects, negotiations and contracting, manage strategic supplier relationships and review inherited contracts to find new ways of delivering value. There's a real transformation element too. While transitional support is in place, you'll help shape how procurement operates at Argos.

You're a highly experienced and credible procurement leader who enjoys building something new. You've delivered end-to-end category strategies across a varied portfolio, led complex negotiations and contracting, and set direction for a team. You're a self-starter who is comfortable with ambiguity. You can bring a start-up mentality while understanding the realities of a legacy business. You know how to influence senior leaders who aren't procurement specialists, and you're commercially minded and cost-conscious, with the creativity to challenge how things have always been done.

We're open-minded about where your experience comes from. Retail experience isn't required; however, experience of a fast-paced, complex corporate environment would be a great fit, and breadth gained in a smaller business is just as valuable as scale. It is an advantage if you bring specialist category expertise in technology, digital or logistics, ideally with experience of setting up procurement systems, controls or operating models.

Essential criteria

• Proven delivery of end-to-end procurement category strategies across a varied portfolio of revenue and capital expenditure, with evidence of measurable outcomes such as P&L savings, cost avoidance or improved quality or service.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex sourcing projects, commercial negotiations and contracting activities. Evidence of managing strategic supplier relationships, including resolving supplier disputes, addressing supply chain risks and using supply market insight to inform sourcing decisions.
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing a procurement team, including setting team direction and establishing or reshaping structures, processes or controls.
• Track record of influencing senior stakeholders, including those without a procurement background, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver procurement objectives.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

• Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year.
• We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
• You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 65% of salary, depending on how we perform (in cash and shares).
• Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare.
• We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
• You'll also receive a company car cash allowance unless you are going to travel 10,000 business miles in your role, then you'll be able to choose a car.
• And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
• Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).