Group Head of Procurement

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Group Head of Procurement is responsible for managing a global spend in excess of £400m (and growing),  defining the Group procurement strategy, leading the procurement function, and overseeing daily business activities in relation to procurement globally across all Howden businesses.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

• Develop, implement and refine a robust global procurement strategy aligned with Group objectives.
• Define and implement a Target Operating Model to deliver the group Procurement strategy using best practice processes and technology.
• Represent Howden at a senior level with suppliers, partners, senior stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
• Work with senior business leaders to identify commercial and operational risks and opportunities across the group.
• Recruit, train, develop and inspire a team of procurement professionals so that they have a real sense of ownership and empowerment to deliver Group Procurement goals.

Supplier Management

• Accountable for sourcing, negotiation and vendor risk & performance management on defined contracts globally whilst ensuring delivery of high-quality products and services.
• Deliver a program of continuous contract review to ensure we obtain best value for money.
• Oversee regular supplier evaluations to assess performance and resolve issues.
• Conduct market analysis and supplier benchmarking to ensure competitiveness and innovation in procurement strategies.

Risk Management & Governance

• Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive Procurement governance framework, including policies, procedures and standards ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
• Introduce robust metrics to track and report Procurement performance and commercial successes and to drive continuous improvement.
• Build out a procurement framework that meets the regulatory requirements of principle regulators, including the FCA, with specific reference to Operational Resilience and TPRM

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with departments such as Finance and Legal to understand their procurement needs and align strategies accordingly.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to assess and forecast procurement requirements and implement the necessary resources.
• Work with Group finance teams to ensure transparency and visibility of group Procurement spend.

Skills and abilities needed to perform role

• Excellent leadership skills, with an open and encouraging management style
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making
• Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment managing competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong commercial acumen
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent knowledge and experience of procurement and vendor risk & performance management at a senior level
• Proven track record of Procurement governance and compliance
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Professional Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent through relevant experience
• CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) level 6 profession diploma or equivalent in experience

Compliance & Regulatory Responsibilities

• Meet all competency requirements by undertaking training and following agreed principles, policies, processes and procedures
• Identify and refer any actual or potential conflicts of interest
• Identify and refer any breaches, potential risks or non-compliance to line management

• Evidence that in all aspects of the business process priority is placed on treating customers fairly

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.