Quality jobs in United States

The Head of Proximity Procurement has direct responsibilities on all Indirects and COGS categories for the AME region and is acting as a local leader and senior interface between Procurement and the Business. He/She drives the development, implementation and continuous improvement of all Procurement Policies, Processes and Strategies. The role ensures alignment of global and local strategies with local needs, drives value creation and sustainability, delivers local efficiency plans and ensures timely, high-quality execution of procurement initiatives, and identifies and consolidates affiliate needs to inform and enrich global procurement strategies.

Management, development and coaching of the Procurement team as well as individuals within group procurement and the local management entities where required. Maintains strong working relationships with Suppliers and all Stakeholders to ensure all procurement activities are in line with time, cost and quality requirements. Aligns with Global Procurement Director Indirects and the Global Category Directors to ensure development of fit for purpose procurement strategies. Aligns with Stakeholders and the Operations Director to ensure delivery of functional business needs strategy and targets – use Procurement as a tool to close any gaps. Provide commercial advice and work jointly with Stakeholders, ensuring introduction of best practice and management of procurement principles across all functions by promoting adoption of procurement processes, tools, and governance to ensure compliance, transparency, and value delivery. Review all category analytics to develop supplier performance management and risk mitigation in close collaboration with the Business the Global category managers and ensure continuous value creation through procurement levers.

Ensure effective monitoring of procurement performance, driving efficiencies, sustainable sourcing, and synergies across affiliates. Actively participate in Global procurement governance forums and key local business meetings to anticipate needs and share procurement plans.

Categories managed by Head of Proximity Procurement include Operations, Business Services, Facilities, Tech, Capex, Media, Creative Content, and Sales Activation (POS, VAP, events), manufacturing, Direct Materials. The role will support all affiliates across Africa Middle East.

• Establish meeting and communication routines within Procurement Team (Bi-Weekly One on Ones, Bi-Weekly Team Meetings etc.)
• Establish meeting and communication routines with Internal Customers and Stakeholders
• Establish Functional Objectives and Strategies
• Responsible for all Procurement Policies and End to End Process source to pay

• Establish Development Plans for self and team to increase knowledge, expertise and performance within the Procurement Function
• Establish Goals / Performance Scorecards for self and team which ensure alignment to Functional Objectives of cost & operational efficiency
• Leadership of Procurement Team to ensure individual, team and business objectives are achieved
• Back-up for Purchasing Category Leads when on leave or demand exceeds capacity

• Development and implementation of Monthly Reports for the various Purchasing Categories and the Procurement Function as a whole
• Development and implementation of a Procurement Dashboard
• Understand budget variances and develop LE to reflect potential long term financial impact across categories.

• Deploy and monitor execution of global procurement strategies and tenders across affiliates, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Represent affiliate priorities and market specificities to global category teams, supporting the co-development of sourcing strategies.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and prioritize procurement initiatives that deliver growth, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to stakeholders based on market intelligence and supplier performance.

Propose new standards with regard to processes, business efficiencies or spend to market

• Propose new standards with regard to processes
• Improved business efficiencies and speed to market
• Knowledge sharing with team

• Develop and implement new tools and ideas to increase productivity
• Automation of the Procurement Function to minimise the administrative burden and increase visibility
• Ensure ERP is setup to support the Procurement Processes

Develop, document and implement Procurement Policies, Processes and Tools aligned to Group Procurement Policies and business requirements

(This includes the expansion of Scope into T&E, Manufacturing, Direct Materials and various General Expenses)

• Establish and execute 3 Year Plan for Procurement Capability Building and Rollout to all Markets
• Procurement Policies , Processes and Strategies published
• Procurement Tools established and rolled out to the team
• Procurement Policies and Processes implemented and adopted by the business

• Develop and implement the RFQ and Tender Processes & Templates
• Assistance to the Markets with guidance, templates, processes, negotiations etc. as required
• This includes Bi-Annual Co-Packing, VAP Export and 3PL Tenders etc.

• Conduct Supplier Vetting annually and as new Suppliers are added
• Compile a Preferred Supplier List per Category per Region which is updated annually and published on My Portal
• Ensure NDAs in place for all Suppliers
• Ensure SLAs in place for all Suppliers
• Supplier Relationship Management

• Entrench Procurement ways of working across all categories within Procurement

Ensure Policy and Process Compliance

• Procurement Team are trained in the Processes, Tools and Templates and adhere to these
• All Internal Customers are trained in the Processes, Tools and Templates and adhere to these

• Ensure that Procurement Team brief and purchase in line with the Procurement Policy and Processes
• Ensure that all Databases, Documentation and Accounts Payable are accurate and up to date

• Suppliers briefed in accordance with RFQ and Tender requirements
• Negotiations with suppliers that lead to operational and cost efficiencies
• Negotiations with suppliers lead to on time and in full product and service delivery

Complete Procurement Process Cycle followed

• Cost tracking per category – detailed spend report is reviewed monthly with OP’s Director.
• Costings compiled and approved by Internal Customers
• Required paperwork sourced from Suppliers, Service Providers and POS Warehouse
• Documentation matched and submitted to Finance for Payment
• Committed spend report analysed monthly and issues resolved

• Cost Comparison compiled and analysed and work assigned based on time, cost quality and operational efficiency
• Savings and missed savings tracked and documented
• Ensure that expenditure aligns with budget
• Development of additional initiatives to close gaps on missed savings.

Liaise with external Suppliers

• Effective relationships with various suppliers
• Suppliers understand minimum quality standards and standardised specifications required
• Suppliers understand policies, processes and requirements
• Development of supplier relationship strategy – Classification of suppliers

Liaise with internal Customers

• Effective relationships with various internal customers
• Internal customers are aware of policies, processes and requirements

Communication and interaction with all stakeholders

• Professional communication, behaviour and actions result in credibility, trust and respect with all work partners

• Deep understanding of categories and local supply markets
• Strategy deployment and localization
• Procurement performance tracking and savings delivery
• Supplier relationship management
• Value engineering, challenge requirements and status quo

• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills. Creativity & Innovation, Business & Financial Acumen, Customer Service & Quality Orientation, Project & Change Management, Relationship Building & Communication

• Strategic Vision, Entrepreneurship, Results Orientation, Live the Values, People Development, Team Management, Change Management and Capability Development

• Tertiary qualification.
• 10 or more years’ experience in procurement as a minimum including project management / tender execution / supply chain experience.
• Experience in the liquor or FMCG industry will be an advantage

• Performance: Cost efficiencies (savings & avoidances)
• Spend coverage by procurement teams
• Supplier portfolio optimization
• % of S&R objectives reached

2026‑03‑01