Head Of Procurement

Most procurement jobs come with a spreadsheet and a view of the same four walls. This one comes with an opportunity to travel and put your stamp onto the role. You'll run UK procurement, help launch new products across Europe, and have a real say in how it gets made, packaged and shipped. If you like variety, pace and seeing your work land in the real world, read on.

What you'll be doing

• You'll look after tens of millions in spend: ingredients, packaging, indirect, logistics and capital-related categories.
• Keep supply flowing, costs competitive and suppliers on their toes.
• You'll also be Procurement's voice on the UK leadership team, so people will listen when you speak.
• You'll work with Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, Quality and Finance to launch and scale a new product for major quick-service restaurant customers and others, supporting tens of millions in annual sales.
• You'll help design the European distribution network, from transport lanes and warehouses to customs and delivery.
• You'll also pick the logistics partners and own a multi-million annual budget.
• You'll own the UK packaging productivity agenda: value engineering, spec optimisation, waste reduction and sustainability.
• Build a multi-year pipeline of ideas, question the way things have always been done, and work with suppliers and technical teams on lower-cost solutions.
• Lead the big negotiations and sourcing events, build a risk-adjusted savings pipeline and shape commodity strategies backed by proper market intelligence.
• Set the tone with priority suppliers through joint planning, regular reviews and honest conversations.

Your team

• You'll lead a procurement and packaging productivity team spread across the UK and Europe.
• Set clear priorities, build their skills and bring the next generation through.
• We want you out meeting customers, suppliers, factories and warehouses, because the best problems get solved on the ground.
• We're after a team with urgency, curiosity and a habit of backing decisions with facts.
• The existing team are brilliant, you are not joining a business where things are messy and there's no infrastructure, you will have experienced personnel beside you wanting to make a difference too.

What good looks like

• Procurement and packaging productivity, inflation and total-cost commitments delivered.
• A smooth launch of the new product, with strong European distribution.
• Suppliers who deliver on service, quality, innovation and continuity.
• Packaging that's cheaper, lighter on waste and better for the planet.
• Strong working capital, an engaged team and stakeholders who like working with you.

What you'll bring

• Serious procurement leadership in food, FMCG, packaging or complex manufacturing, with real direct material spend.
• Experience leading regional teams across the UK and Europe inside a global organisation.
• A proven record on productivity, inflation, supplier performance, supply risk, customer launches and market expansion.
• Sharp skills in negotiation, contracting, category management, supplier relationships and commercial analytics.
• A hands-on, high-energy style, with a bias for action and a bit of commercial tenacity.
• The ability to lead across functions, talk to executives, and turn messy data into a plan people can follow.
• Experience with QSR, foodservice, retail or other demanding multinational customers.
• General management, commercial or P&L experience.

How this fits with everyone else

You'll own procurement strategy, supplier commercial management, packaging productivity and procurement support for the product's European growth. Our manufacturing sites keep production and local material purchasing. Our technical teams keep product and packaging design, qualification and engineering approval. So you'll be a trusted partner to them, not a rival.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary: £100k - £110k.
• Perks: Car, Bonus etc.
• Flexible working: Hybrid working with travel expected.

Sound like you? If you're energetic, curious and fancy making a real mark on a growing business, we'd love to hear from you. Hit apply, and let's build something great together.