Head of Procurement

Head of Procurement

Location: London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a commercially driven Head of Procurement to establish and lead a procurement and supplier management function within a growing business.

With responsibility for approximately £80m in annual supplier spend , this is a high-impact leadership role offering the opportunity to shape procurement strategy, strengthen supplier relationships and deliver measurable improvements across profitability, cash flow and working capital.

This role will suit an experienced procurement leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, with a strong track record of commercial negotiation, cost optimisation and delivering tangible financial results.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a group-wide procurement and supplier management strategy, establishing robust processes, controls and best practice.
• Lead commercial negotiations with key suppliers, covering pricing, payment terms, rebates, contracts and service levels.
• Take ownership of supplier relationships and performance, driving accountability, value and continuous improvement.
• Maximise supplier rebate opportunities, improve recovery rates and identify sources of margin leakage.
• Drive improvements in working capital and cash flow, including reducing proforma payment exposure and negotiating more favourable supplier terms.
• Identify cost savings, supplier consolidation opportunities and purchasing efficiencies across the business.
• Work closely with Finance to quantify procurement benefits and demonstrate their impact on EBITDA and overall business performance.
• Establish effective procurement governance, including supplier onboarding, risk assessments, contract management and compliance.
• Support major tenders and strategic customer opportunities by securing competitive supplier pricing and supply commitments.
• Develop reporting and analytics to provide visibility of spend, savings, supplier performance, commercial risks and working capital opportunities.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and operational teams to balance commercial objectives with customer requirements and business growth.

About You

• Proven experience in a senior procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management or commercial leadership role.
• Strong track record of negotiating supplier contracts, pricing structures, payment terms and rebate programmes.
• Demonstrable success in delivering cost savings, improving margins and releasing working capital.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to link procurement initiatives to measurable business outcomes.
• Experience managing significant supplier spend and complex commercial relationships.
• Confident engaging with C-suite stakeholders and influencing decisions across multiple business functions.
• Analytical and data-driven, with experience using procurement systems, ERP platforms or spend analytics tools.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a significant procurement function, shape the supplier strategy and deliver meaningful commercial and financial improvements across a growing business.

With substantial annual spend and direct exposure to senior leadership, you will have the autonomy to influence business strategy, strengthen commercial governance and build a procurement function focused on long-term value creation.

If you are a commercially astute procurement leader looking for a role where you can make a measurable impact on business performance, we would be keen to hear from you. Apply today, or for more information email [email protected].

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates