Head of Procurement

The Head of Procurement will lead the global procurement function and partner with Business, Finance, Legal, IT and other control functions to deliver sustainable commercial value. The role is accountable for procurement strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier governance, contract and commercial management, third-party risk coordination, and the effectiveness of the procure-to-pay framework. The successful candidate will combine commercial judgement with strong governance, data-led decision-making and stakeholder influence.

They will develop a high-performing procurement capability that improves transparency, controls total cost of ownership, supports business agility and strengthens supplier performance and resilience. Key accountabilities Strategy and functional leadership Develop and execute a global procurement strategy aligned with business priorities, financial objectives and risk appetite. Lead, coach and develop the procurement team, establishing clear objectives, ownership, service levels and performance measures.

Advise senior stakeholders on procurement strategy, market dynamics, commercial models and sourcing decisions. Drive adoption of procurement policies, preferred-supplier arrangements and consistent ways of working across business units and legal entities. Strategic sourcing and commercial value Lead complex and high-value sourcing exercises, including RFI, RFQ and RFP processes, supplier shortlisting, evaluation and negotiation.

Develop category and sourcing plans using spend, demand, market and supplier insights. Negotiate pricing, service levels, payment terms, contractual protections and delivery commitments, working closely with Legal and relevant subject-matter experts. Deliver measurable value through cost savings, cost avoidance, demand management, consolidation, standardisation and total-cost-of-ownership optimisation. Set and deliver supplier-consolidation objectives, reducing supplier fragmentation while maintaining service quality, resilience, competition and appropriate risk controls.

Supplier governance and risk Own the procurement elements of supplier onboarding, due diligence and ongoing supplier governance. Maintain the preferred supplier list and ensure new suppliers are appropriately assessed, approved and established in relevant systems. Own and maintain the complete supplier database, whether in Pramata or another approved platform, ensuring an accurate inventory of supplier contracts, renewal dates and contractual notice periods.

Coordinate periodic supplier reviews covering performance, financial, operational, information security, data protection, sustainability, concentration and business-continuity risks. Lead commercial escalations, remediation plans, contract renewals and supplier exits where required. Act as coordinator for the Supplier Review Committee and ensure decisions, actions and supporting evidence are appropriately recorded. Procure-to-pay controls and contract lifecycle Oversee the procurement lifecycle from business requirement and sourcing through contracting, purchase request, purchase order, receipt and invoice resolution.

Promote compliance with approval authorities, budget controls, “No PO, No Pay” requirements and documented exceptions. Partner with Finance and Accounts Payable to improve purchase-order coverage, invoice accuracy, committed- spend visibility and payment issue resolution. Maintain effective contract and renewal governance, including ownership, key obligations, notice periods, pricing changes and termination provisions.

Data, reporting and continuous improvement Establish dashboards and management reporting for spend, savings, sourcing pipeline, contract coverage, supplier performance, risk, compliance and operational service levels. Maintain a transparent benefits methodology and provide periodic reporting on realised savings, cost avoidance and total-cost-of-ownership improvements. Use procurement technology, automation and data analytics to simplify workflows, strengthen controls and improve user experience.

Champion the responsible use of AI across procurement workflows and reporting, identifying and implementing improvements supported by clear business cases, measurable benefits and demonstrable return on investment. Benchmark procurement practices and lead continuous improvement across policies, processes, systems and supplier engagement. Measures of success Commercial value: Validated savings, cost avoidance and total-cost-of-ownership improvements against agreed targets.

Governance & compliance: Adherence to sourcing, approval, due-diligence, contracting and purchase-order requirements. Supplier outcomes: Improved service, quality, resilience and closure of supplier performance or risk issues. Business partnership: Stakeholder satisfaction, early Procurement engagement and timely delivery of sourcing activity. Operational effectiveness: Accurate reporting, efficient cycle times, contract and renewal visibility, and effective use of procurement systems.

Team capability: Clear accountability, capability development, succession resilience and consistent service delivery. 15–20 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, commercial management or supplier management, including leadership responsibility in a global organisation. Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and sourcing initiatives across technology, software, cloud, professional services and other corporate spend categories.

Proven record of delivering sustainable savings and broader business value while maintaining service quality and appropriate risk controls. Strong understanding of procurement governance, third-party due diligence, contract lifecycle management and procure-to-pay processes. Experience with procurement platforms, contract repositories, spend analytics and management reporting. Graduate degree in a relevant discipline. CIPS, CPSM or an equivalent recognised procurement qualification is desirable.

Leadership capabilities Strategic and commercial mindset, with the ability to translate business objectives into procurement priorities. Executive presence and credibility with senior stakeholders, combined with a collaborative and service-oriented approach. Excellent negotiation, influencing, communication and conflict-resolution skills. Strong financial acumen and ability to interpret pricing models, business cases, budgets and total cost of ownership.

Risk-aware judgement with the ability to balance commercial opportunity, control requirements and delivery urgency. Analytical, structured and decisive, with a strong focus on execution, transparency and measurable outcomes. Ability to work effectively across cultures, functions and time zones. Equal opportunity Smartstream is committed to providing an inclusive workplace and equal employment opportunities. Selection decisions should be based on the skills, experience and capabilities required for the role.