Group Procurement Director

Samworth Brothers; Leicester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

Private Health Scheme

Employee discount scheme

Experience annual pay reviews

Profit related pay

Extended leave

Car or Car Allowance

Training and growth opportunities

Job summary

Samworth Brothers is seeking a Group Procurement Director to lead the Group Procurement function, overseeing direct ingredients, packaging, indirect goods and services, and capital expenditure. This high-visibility role shapes procurement strategy, builds the leadership team, and partners with the Group Executive Board to deliver long-term value across a multi-site manufacturing business.

You will develop supplier partnerships, drive category strategies, manage risk, and negotiate major

Qualifications

• MCIPS or equivalent professional procurement qualification.
• Significant senior procurement leadership experience.
• Expertise in strategic sourcing, category management and contract negotiation.
• Experience in category-led procurement environments.
• Track record leading procurement across large, multi-site organisations.
• Evidence of shaping and delivering a strategic procurement agenda.
• Strong supplier relationship management and market insight to commercial advantage.
• Excellent leadership, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Balance of strategic thinking with practical delivery.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for procurement across the Group.
• Develop and deliver the Group-wide procurement strategy.
• Build a procurement structure that supports future business needs.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing procurement leadership team.
• Create category strategies that support operational, commercial and financial objectives.
• Develop supplier partnerships that improve value, quality and supply resilience.
• Work with senior stakeholders and customers to understand business requirements.
• Provide expert advice to the Group Executive Board on sourcing risks, opportunities and market trends.
• Monitor economic, market and regulatory changes that may affect the business.
• Establish clear reporting and governance frameworks.
• Lead major supplier negotiations and complex commercial agreements.
• Drive continuous improvement across procurement processes, systems and ways of working.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Category management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

MCIPS or equivalent

Job description

Do you enjoy setting strategy and influencing decisions across a large business? Are you passionate about building strong teams, developing supplier partnerships and delivering commercial value? Would you like a senior leadership role where you can make a lasting impact? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity. At Samworth Brothers, procurement is at the heart of our success. It helps us protect supply, manage risk, control costs and support growth across the business. As Group Procurement Director, you will lead the Group Procurement function and oversee procurement across direct ingredients, packaging, indirect goods and services, and capital expenditure. You will play a key role in shaping business strategy and ensuring procurement delivers long-term value. Working closely with the Group Executive Board, you will set the direction for procurement across the Group. You will lead and inspire the Procurement Leadership Team, build strong relationships with suppliers and customers, and work alongside senior leaders across the business. This is a highly visible leadership role for an experienced procurement professional who can think strategically, influence at senior level and deliver results in a fast-paced, customer-focused manufacturing environment. You will have the opportunity to shape the future of procurement at Samworth Brothers. Through your leadership, you will strengthen capability, drive value, improve resilience and help the business respond to changing market conditions.

• Set the strategic direction for procurement across the Group.
• Develop and deliver the Group-wide procurement strategy.
• Build a procurement structure that supports future business needs.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing procurement leadership team.
• Create category strategies that support operational, commercial and financial objectives.
• Develop supplier partnerships that improve value, quality and supply resilience.
• Work with senior stakeholders and customers to understand business requirements.
• Provide expert advice to the Group Executive Board on sourcing risks, opportunities and market trends.
• Monitor economic, market and regulatory changes that may affect the business.
• Establish clear reporting and governance frameworks.
• Lead major supplier negotiations and complex commercial agreements.
• Drive continuous improvement across procurement processes, systems and ways of working.
  We believe success comes from collaboration and diverse perspectives. At Samworth Brothers, we value team players who are driven to achieve great results together.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A professional procurement qualification, such as MCIPS, or equivalent experience.
• Significant senior procurement leadership experience, ideally within the chilled food manufacturing sector.
• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, category management and contract negotiation.
• Experience working in a category-led procurement environment.
• A track record of leading procurement across a large, multi-site organisation.
• Evidence of shaping and delivering a strategic procurement agenda in a complex business.
• Strong supplier relationship management skills and the ability to turn market insight into commercial advantage.
• Excellent leadership, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.

Samworth Brothers is a fourth-generation family business, trusted by many of the UK's best-known retailers to produce high-quality own-label products. Alongside these, we're proud to craft and deliver our own iconic brands, including Ginsters, Soreen, Higgidy, Dickinson & Morris, Urban Eat, West Cornwall Pasty Company, and Walker & Son.

With over 10,000 talented colleagues working across our modern, well-invested food manufacturing sites nationwide, we're committed to excellence in everything we do-from the food we make to the careers we build. At Samworth Brothers, you're more than just an employee, you are part of our strong family culture. Our collaborative approach and strong team spirit help us support one another and achieve great things together. As part of a well-established group, we offer stability, opportunity, and a place where you can truly thrive.

We're building a workplace where different ways of thinking are not just welcomed but supported, with clear communication, flexible processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement so everyone can thrive.

• Company pension scheme
• Private Health Scheme
• Employee discount scheme
• Experience annual pay reviews
• Profit related pay
• Opportunity for extended leave
• Car or Car Allowance
• Unlock your potential through training and growth opportunities