Head of Procurement

Hydrogen Group; Essex; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Hydrogen Group is seeking a Head of Procurement for a UK manufacturing business. You will own direct procurement for the business unit and indirect procurement for the site, setting the strategy, managing suppliers, and leading the procurement team.

The role covers high-mix, low-volume engineered products with a strong emphasis on cost, quality, and TCO. You will lead negotiations, collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering and Finance, and implement IBP processes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading procurement in manufacturing or technology.
• Experience in both direct and indirect procurement.
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing of complex engineered products is preferred.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder skills with credibility to influence at all levels.
• Collaborative leadership style and experience leading a team through change.
• Knowledge of S&OP or integrated business planning.
• ERP experience, ideally SAP S/4HANA.
• A degree or equivalent experience in operations, engineering, business or a related field.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead direct procurement, securing supply, controlling cost and improving supplier performance
• Run indirect procurement for the site, including facilities, services and capital expenditure
• Analyse spend and build sourcing and negotiation strategies that deliver savings
• Negotiate contracts and manage suppliers on total cost of ownership, quality, delivery and compliance
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering and Finance on integrated business planning
• Build procurement KPIs and reporting that support business decisions
• Lead and develop the procurement team, and improve how the function works

Skills

Procurement leadership

Direct & indirect procurement

Negotiation & stakeholder mgmt

Change leadership

S&OP / IBP

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in operations/engineering/business

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Job description

A global technology group is hiring a Head of Procurement for one of its specialist UK manufacturing businesses. The business designs and builds highly engineered, low-volume products used in healthcare, renewables, space and industrial systems. It has an established product range and is growing in new markets.

This is a broad remit. You’ll own all direct procurement for the business unit and all indirect procurement for the site, covering facilities, services and capital spend. You’ll set the strategy, manage the supplier base and lead the procurement team.

What you’ll do

• Lead direct procurement, securing supply, controlling cost and improving supplier performance
• Run indirect procurement for the site, including facilities, services and capital expenditure
• Analyse spend and build sourcing and negotiation strategies that deliver savings
• Negotiate contracts and manage suppliers on total cost of ownership, quality, delivery and compliance
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering and Finance on integrated business planning
• Build procurement KPIs and reporting that support business decisions
• Lead and develop the procurement team, and improve how the function works

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience leading procurement in manufacturing or technology
• A track record across both direct and indirect procurement
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing of complex, engineered products is a preference
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder skills, with the credibility to influence at all levels
• A collaborative leadership style and experience taking a team through change
• Knowledge of S&OP or integrated business planning
• ERP experience, ideally SAP S/4HANA
• A degree or equivalent experience in operations, engineering, business or a related field
• Willingness to travel up to 20%

Why this role

You’ll shape procurement for a business that is growing, rather than maintain a function that’s already set. The products are complex and the supplier base matters, so procurement has a real say in how the business performs.