Procurement Director - Global HR Services

The role sits on the EMEA Procurement Leadership Team, reporting to the Head of Procurement for EMEA Commercial and Global Professional Services. The role will be responsible for the Global HR Services Categories with worldwide responsibility. It will coordinate a team of Global and Regional Category Managers to define category strategies and lead the category plans execution in the different regions and countries, ensuring strong and collaborative relationships are built and maintained with internal and external partners to maximise the value, efficiencies and savings delivered.

You will play a key leadership role providing overall management and leadership to a category family globally and will be in charge of successful delivery of ongoing HR Services enterprise projects. You will ensure that sourcing and procurement strategies are aligned to corporate strategy and delivered with existing and future suppliers, particularly incorporating AI and digital trends. As part of the EMEA and Global Prof Services Procurement Leadership Team, you will also be driving Global Procurement strategy more holistically, e.g. in areas such as speed or sustainability, preferred supplier adoption and automation.

Typical Accountabilities

Strategy

Accountable for designing, and implementation of category, region and market strategies to optimize business efficiency.

Accountable for category management globally including strategic sourcing, contract and risk management.

Accountable for developing and maintaining expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations, with a particular focus on driving the AI / digital agenda.

Works with the Global Procurement network in understanding the global spend and identifying opportunities to increase quality and improve value for money.

Facilitates implementation of procurement change initiatives within category to improve business performance.

Drives innovation within the Procurement function.

Leadership

Line-management and matrix management of a (global, regional and local) Procurement team

Responsible for building and developing a robust, cohesive business-oriented Procurement function in the areas of strategy, demand and services delivery, demonstrating clear value add to the business

Leads, Coaches and develops professional aspects of Procurement team.

Business and Supplier Engagement

Develops an extensive understanding of customer needs and the business environment. Builds strong relationship with customers and ensures customer satisfaction.

Continuously identifies potential improvement opportunities and innovative procurement solutions that provide cashable savings and process efficiencies for the organization.

Address Supplier issues to ensure the highest level of service delivery. Maintains contractual and business relationships with Suppliers to the highest standards.

Fosters trusted relationships with vendors to achieve better pricing and quality of services

Directs new initiatives and improvement programmes aimed at ensuring compliance, continuous

improvement, technical excellence and improving cost-effectiveness.

Develops senior level relationships in order to resolve issues, optimise business performance and develop future improvement opportunities. o Instils the highest standards of compliance and ethics consistently across AZ.

Essential Skills & Experience

Master's degree in Business Administration or International Management, Supply Chain & Logistics (or equivalent experience)

Significant procurement and ideally HR Services Category Management experience

Digital-first thinker / strong AI adopter - able to (re)-imagine the future of HR Services

Strategic Category Management experience, particularly in procurement category strategy development and implementation, experience in sourcing, contracting, supplier negotiation, SRM are essential

Experience in handling procurement processes and tools, e.g. Coupa modules for S2C, P2P, Value Tracking

Excellence in applying cost models, such as should-cost modelling, TCO approaches, make-or-buy analysis

Experience of people management, ideally team leadership

Ability to communicate, build relationships and influence senior management

Proven ability to manage change

Proven track record of entrepreneurial thinking and ability to deliver truly global, complex program initiatives

High degree of resilience and working with risk and in ambiguous situations

Desirable Skills & Experience

Experience of working in a corporate, matrix environment

Experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry