Divisional Head of Procurement & Procurement Business Partner

Overview

Divisional Head of Procurement & Procurement Business Partner

Location: United States, Remote  Salary: $126457 – $170700, depending on experience and qualifications.  There may be flexibility for an exceptional candidate Preference for candidates based in or near the Northeast, with travel to company sites as required We’re looking for a senior procurement leader to take ownership of direct-material procurement across one of our divisions, while also connecting the business effectively with our Group Procurement team for indirect spend. This is a broad, hands-on leadership role. You’ll shape the divisional procurement strategy, strengthen how we manage suppliers and risk, and make sure group-led sourcing initiatives deliver results in practice, not just on a spreadsheet. The role is remote and can be based anywhere in the US. However, as many of our sites are in the Northeast, being based within reasonable reach of that region would be useful. You’ll need to travel to sites and suppliers when the work calls for it.

The role

You’ll lead and professionalise direct-material procurement across a complex, multi-site operation. That includes setting the strategy, building a clear pipeline of sourcing and cost-improvement activity, leading important supplier negotiations, and improving supply resilience.You’ll also act as the division’s main procurement business partner for indirect spend. You’ll make sure the division’s requirements are properly understood by Group Procurement and lead the local implementation of group agreements and category strategies. In short, you’ll help turn procurement plans into measurable business results. 

Responsibilities

What you’ll do

• Develop and run a divisional procurement strategy that supports commercial, operational and growth priorities.
• Lead direct-material procurement across multiple sites, setting clear priorities, measures and ways of working.
• Build and deliver category, commodity and supplier strategies covering cost, quality, delivery, service and resilience.
• Create a prioritised pipeline of sourcing, negotiation, value-engineering and cost-improvement initiatives.
• Lead strategic supplier negotiations, selection and contracting.
• Work closely with engineering, operations, quality, R&D and supply chain on specifications, standardisation, substitution, new-product introduction and make-or-buy decisions. 
• Improve supplier performance through effective segmentation, relationship management and structured reviews.
• Identify and manage supply risks such as single-source dependency, capacity constraints, supplier financial weakness and geographic concentration.
• Put in place practical mitigation and continuity plans for critical materials and suppliers. 
• Represent the division with Group Procurement, making sure business needs, forecasts, specifications and operational constraints are clearly understood.
• Coordinate divisional involvement in group sourcing projects, supplier evaluations and implementation plans.
• Lead the adoption of group agreements, approved suppliers and purchasing channels across the division.
• Track savings, cost avoidance, working-capital improvements and other benefits through to financial realisation, not just theoretical claims.
• Strengthen procurement processes, systems, data, governance and commercial capability across the division.
• Lead and develop procurement colleagues, creating clear accountability without adding bureaucracy for the sake of it

Qualifications

 

What you’ll bring

• Significant procurement experience gained in a complex, multi-site or international organisation.
• Strong direct-material procurement experience within manufacturing, engineering or a similar industrial environment.
• A track record of developing and delivering category, commodity and supplier strategies.
• Evidence that you’ve delivered procurement savings and successfully converted them into financially recognised business benefits.
• Strong sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-management experience.
• Practical experience of managing supplier performance, continuity and supply-chain risk.
• Experience working within a matrix or centre-led procurement model.
• The confidence to influence senior stakeholders and challenge constructively, even when you don’t have direct authority.
• Experience leading, developing and improving procurement teams.
• Strong commercial, analytical and financial judgement.
• A relevant degree, equivalent professional experience or both.
• A recognised procurement qualification, such as CIPS, would be useful but isn’t essential. 

You’ll be comfortable moving between strategy and delivery. One day you may be advising divisional leadership; the next, you may be working through a supplier risk or removing a barrier that’s stopping a new agreement from being adopted.You’ll also know that good procurement isn’t simply about pushing for the lowest price. It’s about balancing cost, quality, technical capability, delivery, innovation, resilience and sustainability, then making a decision the business can actually live with. 

What you’ll get

• A senior, high-visibility staff role with ownership across divisional direct and indirect procurement.
• The opportunity to shape procurement strategy, capability and ways of working across a multi-site business.
• A US-based remote working arrangement.
• Travel to company sites and suppliers as required, with much of the site footprint located in the Northeast.
• The chance to influence both divisional priorities and the wider global procurement agenda. 

Interested in learning more?

If this sounds like the right next step, apply now.Don’t have an up-to-date CV? No problem. Apply with what you have, or reach out to our Talent team via LinkedIn for an initial conversation