Head of Procurement

The Head of Procurement will take full ownership of the procurement strategy, supplier relationships, cost optimisation and risk management across the group. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in delivering procurement excellence, supporting NPD and sustainability goals, and building a high-performing procurement team.

You'll work closely with operations, commercial, finance, and supply chain leadership, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and driving measurable value.

• Develop and execute the end-to-end procurement strategy across direct and indirect spend, with a particular focus on packaging materials.
• Lead a team of procurement professionals and support their growth and development.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, negotiating key contracts and driving supplier performance.
• Deliver cost savings, improved service levels, and robust supply risk mitigation strategies.
• Partner with NPD and sustainability teams to source innovative and eco-friendly materials in line with business goals.
• Lead procurement involvement in CAPEX projects, supply chain transformation, and operational improvements.
• Ensure compliance with legal, quality, ethical, and sustainability standards across the supply base.
• Implement robust procurement policies, processes, and systems to enable scalable growth.
• Analyse market trends and commodity risks to inform strategic sourcing decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making and stakeholder engagement.

• Proven experience in a senior procurement leadership role within the packaging industry - this is essential.
• Deep knowledge of packaging materials (e.g., plastics, cardboard, film, adhesives) and global supply markets.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with a track record of delivering sustainable cost improvements.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and collaborating cross-functionally with operations, quality, and engineering.
• Knowledge of sustainable sourcing, ESG frameworks, and ethical procurement best practices.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience implementing or optimising procurement systems/tools (e.g., ERP, SRM, e-sourcing platforms).
• Degree-qualified or equivalent; CIPS qualification desirable.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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