Head of Procurement

Location: Chelmsford, UK
Employment type: Permanent, full-time on site
Salary: Dependent on Experience

We are a global leader in specialised components and subsystems for innovative solutions across medical, science, aerospace, defence and industrial applications.

Our products are used in hospitals, aircraft, ships and even space, supporting critical applications from cancer detection and treatment to mapping our planet and the universe.

We are seeking an inspiring and transformational Head of Procurement to join our RF Power business unit at an exciting time of growth.

With an established product portfolio and expanding activity in Healthcare and Novel System markets, this is an opportunity to lead procurement strategy, drive supply-chain resilience and make a measurable impact across the business.

The role

Reporting into the RF Power business unit, the Head of Procurement will own all direct procurement activity for RF Power and all indirect procurement for the Chelmsford site.

You will develop and implement procurement strategies, manage strategic supplier relationships and drive best practice to deliver value, efficiency, quality and resilience across the supply chain.

This senior leadership role requires strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking and the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation.

Key responsibilities

- Lead all procurement activity for RF Power, ensuring security of supply, cost competitiveness and strong supplier performance.
- Oversee indirect procurement for the Chelmsford site, including facilities, services and capital expenditure.
- Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with business objectives, growth plans and operational priorities.
- Analyse direct and indirect procurement spend, developing and executing sourcing and negotiation strategies to achieve savings targets.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating contracts and managing supplier performance across quality, service, delivery, compliance, innovation and total cost of ownership.
- Implement procurement best practice, driving continuous improvement across processes, systems and supplier management.
- Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering and Finance to support integrated business planning and effective information flow.
- Provide subject-matter expertise on global procurement strategies and tactics.
- Develop and manage procurement metrics and KPIs, providing timely reporting, analysis and insights to support business decision-making.
- Lead, develop and inspire the procurement team, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting professional growth.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, legal requirements and ethical standards across all procurement activity.
- Support and lead key procurement and supply-chain infrastructure projects as required.
- Maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and act as the liaison between procurement and other business units.

Skills and experience

Essential

- Significant experience in procurement leadership roles, ideally within manufacturing or technology sectors.
- Proven track record across both direct and indirect procurement, including contract negotiation and supplier management.
- Demonstrated success in delivering cost savings, efficiencies and process improvements across procurement functions.
- Strong strategic-thinking capability, with experience developing and executing procurement strategies.
- Excellent commercial acumen, contract negotiation skills and customer focus.
- Collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to lead teams through change.
- Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field, such as Operations, Engineering or Business Administration.
- Experience using ERP systems, ideally SAP S/4HANA.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and project-management skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Power BI.
- Ability to work at pace under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
- Experience in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing focused on highly engineered, complex products.
- Knowledge of S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) and integrated business-planning processes.

To find out more please contact Max Sinclair @ Holt Executive by clicking apply