Head of Procurement

Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG; Slough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supplier of medical equipment is looking for a Head of Procurement to manage procurement activities and ensure compliance with standards. This role involves developing a procurement strategy, overseeing supplier relationships, and driving process improvements. Candidates should have a degree in Supply Chain or related field, strong negotiation skills, and significant experience in procurement leadership. A competitive benefits package is offered in a full-time permanent position based in Slough.

Benefits

34 days holiday

Generous Pension

Private Medical

Medical cash back scheme

Company sick pay

Life Assurance

Critical illness and income protection

Perkbox benefits platform

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level procurement experience in a leadership role.
• Proven contract negotiation and commercial governance expertise.
• Strong analytical, financial, and reporting capability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategy and policies.
• Oversee the full procure-to-pay (P2P) lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business

Tools

ERP systems (e.g. SAP)

Job description

Overview

KARL STORZ is one of the world’s leading suppliers of medical equipment for minimally invasive surgery. Since its beginnings in 1945, KARL STORZ has established itself worldwide as an international and highly regarded company in the production and sale of medical instruments and devices. The family-owned company applies tradition and experience to think about tomorrow, today. The company caters for future trends with sophisticated products, services and processes that support our global activities. Our commitment to performance and professionalism means we can guarantee both user and patient the ideal solution. In doing so, we secure and create top-quality jobs in all our corporate locations.

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Head of Procurement to lead and manage the organisation’s end-to-end procurement activity, ensuring best value, effective supplier management, strong governance, and compliance with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards. The role will drive sustainable procurement practices, manage risk, and support the organisation’s operational and strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Strategic leadership & governance

• Develop and implement a robust, organisation-wide procurement strategy, policies, and frameworks
• Centralise procurement activity, including contracts, quotations, renewals, and supplier negotiations
• Ensure procurement practices align with business objectives, legal requirements, and ethical standards
• Lead, coach, and motivate the procurement function
• Identify and mitigate procurement and supply-chain risks
• Drive process optimisation, including e-procurement tools and automation

• Category management & sourcing

• Lead indirect procurement across operational goods and services
• Conduct market research and strategic sourcing to achieve best value
• Run tenders, evaluate bids, and make supplier recommendations
• Forecast demand and assess market trends and pricing impacts

• Supplier relationship management

• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships
• Lead contract negotiations to secure favourable commercial terms
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs
• Manage disputes, complaints, and corrective actions
• Ensure suppliers meet compliance and sustainability expectations

• Operational & financial oversight

• Oversee the full procure-to-pay (P2P) lifecycle
• Ensure purchasing activity aligns with budgets and approval controls
• Deliver spend analysis, KPI reporting, and value-for-money reviews
• Produce reports and insights for senior leadership and the Board

• Collaboration & continuous improvement

• Work closely with internal teams to understand demand and business needs
• Provide procurement guidance and best-practice training across the organisation
• Stay informed on market trends, regulation, and emerging procurement technologies
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve cost, performance, and resilience

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, or related field (CIPS preferred or equivalent experience)
• Significant senior-level procurement experience in a leadership role
• Strong experience across indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, and supplier management
• Proven contract negotiation and commercial governance expertise
• End-to-end P2P process knowledge, including ERP/procurement systems (e.g. SAP)
• Experience managing procurement risk, compliance, and supplier performance
• Strong analytical, financial, and reporting capability

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to influence at senior and Board level
• Strong leadership, organisational, and decision-making skills

Job Types

Full time/ Permanent

Schedule

• 35 hour shift
• Monday-Friday

Work Location

Office based in Slough

Your Benefits

• 34 days holiday (inclusive of public holidays)
• Generous Pension
• Private Medical
• Medical cash back scheme
• Company sick pay
• Life Assurance
• Critical illness and income protection (service requirements apply)
• Perkbox benefits platform

HR Contact

Luke Burr
[e-mail]