Head Of Procurement

The Sterling Choice; England; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car

Bonus

Hybrid working

Travel

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking a Head of Procurement to lead UK procurement, shape pan‑European product launches, and influence how products are made, packaged and shipped. You will be the procurement voice on the UK leadership team and travel across Europe to deliver tangible results.

You will manage tens of millions in spend, lead negotiations with suppliers, design the European distribution network and own a multi‑million annual budget while driving cost savings and value engineering across

Qualifications

• Experience leading regional teams across the UK and Europe in a global organisation.
• Proven track record on productivity, inflation, supplier performance and market expansion.
• Strong negotiation, contracting and supplier management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead UK procurement, packaging productivity and multi‑million budget.
• Launch and scale new products across Europe and design European distribution.
• Negotiate with key suppliers to improve service, quality and cost.
• Own the UK packaging productivity agenda and drive sustainability improvements.

Skills

Procurement leadership

UK & Europe leadership

Negotiation

Contracting

Supplier relationships

Commercial analytics

Tools

ERP systems

Sourcing platforms

Job description

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.

This is the fun bit. 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. Safety and quality stay non-negotiable.

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. The aim is partnerships that bring better service, capacity and ideas.

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.

And you won t be chained to a desk. 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:

GBP100k - GBP110k

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.