Head of Procurement

AWD online; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AWD online in Plymouth, Devon, seeks a seasoned Head of Procurement to shape a high‑performing function. You will lead category strategy, sourcing, contracting and supplier management across direct spend, aligning with manufacturing and engineering services priorities.

Working with cross‑functional teams, you will drive value, reduce risk and strengthen commercial performance, supported by data‑driven decisions, ERP/S2P tools, and a proven leadership track record.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in category management with source-to-contract delivery in manufacturing/engineering services
• CIPS qualification or equivalent
• Experience applying continuous improvement methodologies
• Advanced commercial and contract acumen
• Strong budgets/finance understanding in manufacturing
• Data-driven performance and decision-making
• Experience using ERP and source-to-pay solutions
• Proven stakeholder and change management capabilities
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy, savings plans and risk-reduction activities
• Oversee strategic sourcing, supplier selection and negotiations
• Drive contract lifecycle management and supplier performance
• Develop supplier relationships and mitigate supply-chain risk
• Align procurement plans with business priorities across functions
• Ensure escalation resolution and data quality in master data
• Lead the category team and build capability across processes
• Track category performance and support cross-functional decisions

Skills

Category leadership

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

ERP and S2P experience

Microsoft Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Business or engineering qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Source-to-pay solutions

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Head of Procurement

Shape a high-performing procurement function, lead strategic category delivery and create sustainable value across significant direct spend. This senior opportunity suits a proven category management leader from manufacturing or engineering services with strong commercial and stakeholder capability.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Head of Category, Head of Category Management, Head of Strategic Sourcing, Head of Purchasing, Procurement Lead, Category Management Lead, Senior Procurement Manager, Senior Category Manager

This role is officially known as Head of Category

SALARY: Competitive + Benefits

LOCATION: Plymouth, Devon

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: On-site in Plymouth 4.5 days per week

JOB OVERVIEW

An opportunity to influence procurement strategy and strengthen commercial performance across a direct-spend portfolio.

The Head of Procurement will lead category strategy, sourcing, contracting and supplier management, building capability across people, processes and systems while reducing supply-chain risk.

Working across commercial, engineering, planning, logistics, production and finance teams, the Head of Procurement will align procurement plans with business priorities and supplier performance.

With accountability for team performance and stakeholder engagement, the Head of Procurement will use data and commercial judgement to support resilient supply and measurable outcomes.

DUTIES

Your duties as the Head of Procurement include:

• Category Strategy and Value Delivery: Lead the creation and execution of category strategies, savings plans and risk-reduction activity agreed with the business
• Strategic Sourcing and Negotiation: Ensure effective RFx activity, supplier selection and commercial negotiation aligned with category strategies
• Contract and Lifecycle Management: Increase contracted spend and oversee contract lifecycle management, deliverables and dispute resolution
• Supplier Management and Risk: Build strong supplier relationships, apply supplier segmentation, mitigate supply-chain risk and support supplier performance against required standards
• Demand and Supply Planning: Review demand and supply requirements with development and planning teams, taking action with purchasing to maintain supply and deliver benefit
• Transactional Optimisation: Ensure purchasing requirements are reflected in category strategies and contract arrangements
• Order Book and Master Data: Own resolution of escalated order book and master data management issues
• Team and Capability Development: Lead the direct category team and strengthen people, process and system capability for a high-performing category management function
• Performance and Stakeholder Management: Track category performance, use data and insight to support decisions, and collaborate across commercial, design, engineering, planning, logistics, production, finance and legal teams

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Previous category management leadership experience and performance delivery across the source-to-contract model in manufacturing or engineering services
• Business or engineering-based qualification
• CIPS qualification
• Experience applying continuous improvement methodologies
• Advanced commercial and contract acumen
• Strong understanding of budgets and finance in a manufacturing environment
• Data-led approach to performance and decision-making
• Experience using and deploying ERP and source-to-pay solutions
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word
• Advanced leadership, coaching, collaboration and communication skills
• Demonstrated stakeholder and change management capability