Procurement Director – Chemicals

Our trusted client is looking for a Procurement Director that will be responsible for defining and leading the European procurement strategy to ensure cost efficiency, supply continuity, risk management, and sustainable sourcing across all business units. The role drives value creation through strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and alignment with European regulatory and ESG requirements.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a Europe-wide procurement strategy aligned with corporate objectives

• Lead category management across direct and indirect spend

• Drive standardisation and best practices across multiple countries and business units

• Act as a strategic partner to Executive Leadership, Finance, Operations, and Legal

Supplier & Category Management

• Lead supplier selection, negotiation, and contract management at regional and global levels

• Build and maintain strategic supplier partnerships

• Ensure supplier performance through KPIs, audits, and continuous improvement plans

• Manage supplier risk, resilience, and business continuity planning

Financial & Commercial Management

• Deliver annual cost savings, working capital improvements, and value initiatives

• Own procurement budgets and spend visibility across Europe

• Support make/buy decisions and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with EU and local regulations (e.g. competition law, public procurement rules where applicable)

• Embed strong governance, ethical sourcing, and anti-bribery practices

• Oversee contract compliance and procurement policies

ESG & Sustainability

• Lead sustainable sourcing initiatives aligned with EU ESG frameworks (e.g. CSRD, Scope 3 emissions)

• Promote supplier diversity, responsible sourcing, and environmental impact reduction

• Partner with Sustainability teams to meet reporting and compliance requirements

Digital & Process Excellence

• Drive procurement digitalisation (e-sourcing, P2P, contract lifecycle management)

• Improve procurement processes, data quality, and analytics

• Champion continuous improvement and procurement maturity development

People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and inspire a multi-country procurement team

• Build strong talent pipelines and succession plans

• Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture

Key Relationships

• Executive Leadership Team

• Finance, Legal, Operations, Sustainability, and IT

• Regional and Global Suppliers

• External advisors and industry bodies

Essential

• Significant senior procurement leadership experience in a European or multinational environment

• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management expertise

• Proven experience managing complex, cross-border supply bases

• Deep understanding of EU regulatory, compliance, and ESG requirements – chemicals

• Track record of delivering cost savings and strategic value

Desirable

• Experience in [manufacturing / FMCG / pharmaceuticals / energy / services – adapt as needed]

• Familiarity with digital procurement platforms (e.g. SAP Ariba, Coupa, Jaggaer)

• Experience leading transformation or post-merger integration

Personal Attributes

• Strategic, analytical, and commercially astute

• Influential leader with strong stakeholder management skills

• Resilient and comfortable operating in complex, matrix organisations

• High ethical standards and commitment to sustainability

Location & Travel

• Based in Europe with regular international travel as required

€120,000 – €150,000 + package