Head of Procurement - Hamburg

Senior Procurement Leader – (Hamburg | 3 Days Onsite | High‑Growth Business)

Overview

A rare opportunity to build and lead a global procurement function from the ground up within a high‑growth company on a strong upward trajectory. This role is strategically critical as the business expands rapidly. You will shape the function, hire a new team, and establish deep supplier partnerships‑directly influencing future growth, resilience, and competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and lead the global procurement strategy, focusing on significant supplier expansion
• Build high‑level, long‑term supplier partnerships; leverage ecosystems and negotiate at senior levels.
• Create procurement standards, policy, governance, and best practice across a business that has operated procurement via Operations to date.
• Recruit and develop a new team of ~5 roles (including a Senior Category Manager) to establish a high‑performing, modern procurement organisation.
• Work as a peer to the C‑suite‑particularly the COO (Hamburg‑based)-to set priorities, align spend, and embed procurement influence early.
• Drive competitive advantage through sophisticated supplier relationship management, balancing technology (AI tools) with strategic, relationship‑led engagement.
• Develop strong spend insight, category strategies, and sourcing roadmaps to support rapid scale‑up.
• Travel extensively across Europe and China to build, maintain, and grow supplier connections.
• Present to and engage with senior internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications & Experience

• 10‑15+ years' experience in senior procurement leadership within relevant industrial, energy, engineering, or equipment‑heavy sectors.
• Ideally proven track record creating and sustaining senior‑level supplier partnerships in China; strong familiarity with Chinese CAPEX supply markets.
• Hands‑on and strategic‑able to build a function while executing high‑value sourcing activity.
• Experience in renewables, energy, or adjacent industrial sectors preferred; customer‑side or supplier‑side backgrounds both considered.
• Strong cross‑cultural leadership; prior experience managing or collaborating with teams on the ground in China is highly desirable.
• Ability to operate as a C‑suite peer‑confident, influential, and credible with senior leadership and investors.
• Fluent English required; German advantageous but not essential.

Role Requirements

Onsite presence in Hamburg at least 3 days per week.

Extensive international travel to suppliers and European plants.

Ability to start early Q1 (flexible for the right candidate).

Commitment to building a career‑evidence of progression and capability development.

What Makes This Opportunity Compelling

Join a fast‑scaling company with strong investor backing

Build the procurement function from zero-full ownership, high autonomy, immediate strategic impact.

Play a pivotal role in unlocking growth

Direct visibility to C‑suite and investors; part of the leadership team shaping the next stage of growth.

Competitive package with potential bonus elements aligned to company growth.