Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you. As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits. To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact Click “Apply” to get started. What will this role achieve? We are looking for a Head of Raw Materials to join the pladis UKI Procurement Team in our Chiswick Head Office. This role will partner effectively with the Regional Executive team in all day-to-day procurement operations, whilst leading the effective business partnership for Regional UK/Europe Agriculture and Ingredients to positively impact the Regional P&L. Managing the Regional Procurement team, the role oversees category strategy development, contract negotiations and supplier management. Additionally, it provides data and impact assessments to Global Procurement teams to shape and implement global strategies within the region. A key focus is driving cost and service improvement projects, fostering strong collaboration with Global Procurement. The role reports into the Regional Procurement Director for UKI, and has been opened due to internal mobility within the team. What will be your key deliverables? Leadership and Management Responsibilities As a key member of pladis Regional Procurement, acts to ensure self and all Agriculture and Ingredients team members are seen as exemplars of professional procurement practice, ensuring all procurement activity in accordance with pladis procurement operating model, One Procurement Community (OPC), stated ethics, CSR and other procurement and legal policies. Ensure 100% alignment and delivery of both Regional and Global Procurement targets. Delivers high quality strategic solutions for Regional UK/Europe Agriculture and Ingredients categories to meet the needs of the organisation, delivering value and having significant coverage and commercial influence over regional 3rd party expenditure. Demonstrates effective stakeholder management ensuring delivery of commitments to key stakeholder areas relevant to Regional UK/Europe Agriculture and Ingredients and Global categories and the wider business. Procurement Responsibilities: Regional Category Strategy Responsible for implementation and monitoring of Global risk mitigation plans within the Region for Agriculture and Ingredients. Providing the Regional UK/Europe Packaging and Ingredients inputs in terms of investment and budget to the Global Procurement teams and understands in return how the Global Strategies may impact the Region. Is responsible for the procurement budget for the region Undertakes and improves detailed business requirements analysis from Risk, Sustainability and Research & Insights; and aligns Regional category strategies to pladis’ objectives. Define the strategies and plans, aid to budget delivery, including respect of governance and policies, and insights received from Market Intelligence. Leading the sourcing cycle for Regional Agriculture and Ingredients Procurement; engaging negotiation teams when relevant; driving an effective negotiation process. Reports on Regional category level performance metrics and other relevant management information. Conducts supplier segmentation and develops, maintains and communicates a preferred supplier and approved product/service list for their agreed categories. Procurement Responsibilities : Supply Management Develops and manages appropriate supplier relationship management program with key Regional category suppliers. .Lead the creation and management of contractual coverage for all Regional UK/Europe Agriculture and Ingredients categories. Building strong relationships with suppliers. Performing the sourcing cycle and negotiating with suppliers using a broad array of negotiation techniques. Proactively and appropriately communicating with them throughout the sourcing cycle for best outcome for pladis. Drive success of global and regional contracts by implementing across all appropriate business areas in conjunction with regional teams. Identify compliance issues, working with key stakeholders and Regional Procurement to rectify where possible. Works collaboratively with Global Procurement teams to ensure appropriate supplier evaluation and performance management plans are in place for Global (as well as Regional) category suppliers. Bring your experience. Essential: Excellent functional Procurement experience leading categories across a region and/or multiple geographies, within Ingredients or Packaging within a similar industry. Strong capability to set category strategy and plans; experienced in establishing credibility with internal and external partners. Outstanding ability to encourage, energise, and lead a large team. Strong project and organisational change capabilities Desirable: Global experience a benefit Experience operating in a Global company with a matrix structure. Experience of leading, motivating and developing people What does pladis offer you? Stakeholder Pension Scheme AIP Bonus Car Allowance Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme 25 days bank holidays Holiday Enhancement Scheme 1 Volunteering Day per year Cycle to work scheme Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services Financial Wellbeing Support Our V alues Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers. Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together Best mix of ingredients pladis is an equal opportunities employer, l ike every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law. We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business. We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.