Global Head of Procurement

A leading global business process outsourcing group is seeking a Global Head of Procurement to take full ownership of their indirect and services procurement portfolio, spanning approximately USD 300 million in annual spend across eleven countries. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to shape and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy at group level, reporting directly to the Group CFO.

You will be empowered to drive measurable savings, enhance supplier risk management, and foster transparency and efficiency throughout the organisation’s procurement landscape. With a diverse footprint covering major markets such as Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, you will lead two category-focused teams and provide functional guidance to local buyers internationally. The organisation values flexibility, knowledge sharing, and supportive leadership, making this an ideal environment for those who thrive in collaborative settings and are committed to nurturing high-performing teams.

• Take responsibility for strategic procurement decisions impacting USD 300 million in global spend across eleven countries, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and delivering tangible results.
• Lead and develop two dedicated category teams while providing functional governance to local buyers in Vietnam, Hungary, and Hong Kong, fostering a culture of collaboration and professional growth.
• Enjoy the benefits of working within a globally recognised BPO group that prioritises transparent processes, inclusive leadership, and opportunities for personal and team development.

What you'll do:

As Global Head of Procurement, you will play a central role in shaping how the organisation approaches its indirect and services spend on a global scale. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve setting strategic direction for procurement activities, leading complex negotiations with key suppliers, embedding governance standards across multiple regions, and developing your teams into trusted partners within the business. Success in this role requires you to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels both within your immediate teams and among local buyers internationally while maintaining a clear focus on delivering measurable savings and mitigating supplier risks. You will also be responsible for reporting performance outcomes to senior leadership, ensuring that procurement remains a transparent and value-adding function throughout the group’s extensive footprint.

• Define and implement a global procurement strategy that aligns with the organisation’s overarching corporate goals and objectives.
• Lead all aspects of category management, including strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and supplier relationship management for indirect and services spend.
• Personally oversee strategic tenders and negotiate with the most significant suppliers to secure optimal commercial outcomes for the group.
• Design, embed, and enforce robust procurement governance frameworks, policies, and standards across all regions where the organisation operates.
• Deliver consistent year-on-year cost savings while actively reducing supplier risk through effective management practices.
• Build, nurture, and develop a high-performing global procurement team by promoting knowledge sharing and supportive leadership.
• Coordinate with local buyers across international locations to ensure functional governance and adherence to best practices.
• Report on procurement performance metrics and KPIs directly to the Group CFO and executive leadership team.
• Collaborate closely with finance back-office operations in Hungary to streamline operational procurement activities.
• Champion compliance initiatives by ensuring audit readiness and driving improvements in procurement process efficiency.

What you bring:

The ideal candidate for Global Head of Procurement will bring substantial experience managing significant spend portfolios within international environments. Your proven ability to lead teams collaboratively especially within matrix structures will be crucial as you guide two category-focused groups alongside local buyers spread across several countries. You should possess advanced negotiation skills backed by sound commercial judgement as well as deep familiarity with contract law principles relevant to procurement governance. A degree in business or supply chain disciplines is expected; additional certifications such as CIPS or CPSM are highly regarded. Fluency in English is required given the global nature of this role;

• Over ten years’ experience in strategic procurement roles with direct accountability for managing large-scale spend portfolios exceeding USD/CHF 250 million.
• Proven track record of leading teams within international matrix organisations, demonstrating commitment to collaborative leadership and professional development.
• Highly accomplished negotiator with exceptional commercial judgement who consistently delivers favourable outcomes in complex supplier engagements.
• Deep understanding of contract law principles coupled with expertise in designing effective procurement governance frameworks.
• Degree-level qualification in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or related discipline; CIPS or CPSM certification preferred but not mandatory.
• Fluent English language skills are essential; proficiency in German would be advantageous for cross-border collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal skills enabling you to connect effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds across multiple geographies.
• Ability to coordinate functional governance among local buyers while fostering an inclusive culture of knowledge sharing.
• Experience reporting procurement performance metrics to executive leadership teams in large organisations.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver measurable cost savings while improving process efficiency and compliance outcomes.

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