Head of Procurement Italy Food Industry

Head of Procurement Italy Food Industry | Milan Area | €€€ Interesting Package

Our client for this project is an Italian multinational company accustomed to thinking big. Part of a leading international group, present in the main European and international markets, its true value lies in the people who contribute to the company's success every day.

As Head of Procurement you will lead the divisional Procurement function, manage buyers on ingredients, packaging, and indirects for divisional matters, interact with senior stakeholders, ensure the effective integration of the acquisitions, deliver the results in the division, elevate the functional capabilities, maturity, governance, and processes, as well as strengthening systems, ESG, and supplier innovation. There is a significant scope for transforming the procurement organisation.

The Head of Procurement will also be closely involved in the procurement processes associated with specific divisional categories, such as for example eggs.

Key Responsibilities:

Organisation & People

• Develop a procurement strategy for the Company, in line with the Group procurement strategy and Company's local business strategy and priorities.
• Lead the Procurement function developing robust sourcing strategies, ensuring supply resilience and delivering the expected business results.
• Lead the transition of required capabilities, assess and align ways of working, build robust processes, setting and tracking performance measures for the team.
• Develop a deep understanding of market prices evolution and drivers for relevant categories
• Lead the sourcing process for categories led by Company & support the sourcing process for those led by Group
• Promote the Company name and presence within the supplier community, establishing strong operational supplier relationships at the required level
• Advise on, and implement, cover for ingredients/packaging in line with Group Procurement guidance
• Ensure supplier agreements, capability, and adequate processes are in place to provide continuous supply to the Business
• Pro-actively anticipate supply risk by understanding market situation and suppliers’ risks

Governance

• Ensure roles & responsibilities are adequately defined within procurement and at interfaces with other functions
• Ensure the application of the Procurement Policy and adequate Indirects spend governance
• Ensure the integrity of the procurement data (prices, master data, savings projects, forecasts, etc…)

Our Ideal Candidate

• Strong (> 12 years) procurement experience of successfully operating in an international consumer goods business – ideally in food industry – of similar scale & complexity.
• Strong experience in sourcing food ingredients or raw materials is a must
• Experience in sourcing packaging and indirects would be a plus
• An effective negotiator and well-rounded buyer
• Strong knowledge of best-in-class procurement approaches and processes
• Experience working in a matrix/functionally-led organisation and bring different perspectives both on strategic and operational procurement activities
• Comfortable with change and with appetite to strengthen team capabilities and re-engineer processes
• Experience in working with an ERP system