Regional Procurement Lead - European Operations Location: Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland Client: International Apparel Manufacturer VANRATH are delighted to be partnering with a global leader in the apparel industry to recruit an experienced Procurement professional to lead their regional procurement operations. This position plays a key role in shaping purchasing strategies, developing supply chain efficiencies, and leading a high-performing European procurement team. This role offers both influence and progression at an international level. Why this role? Team Leadership: Guide and develop a cross-functional procurement team spanning multiple European sites. Strategic Ownership: Shape procurement frameworks, deliver cost efficiencies, and manage high-value supplier negotiations. International Collaboration: Engage directly with global teams and multiple business units to drive value across the supply chain. Your Key Focus Areas: Lead and manage the European procurement function, ensuring alignment with wider business objectives across manufacturing and regional operations. Establish and implement sourcing strategies that support operational needs and deliver measurable cost savings. Lead contract negotiations with vendors, working closely with legal, treasury, and risk departments to ensure compliance. Build and sustain effective supplier relationships; identify and qualify alternative sources to reduce risk and increase resilience. Collaborate across internal teams including Finance, Technical, Operations, and Logistics to support cross-functional procurement goals. Monitor procurement metrics and produce performance reports aligned with internal controls and corporate compliance. Drive continuous improvements through process evaluation, supplier performance management, and adoption of procurement best practices. What You'll Need to Succeed: A degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related discipline. A minimum of 5 years' experience in Procurement, Sourcing, or Supply Chain, with a proven track record of leading teams. Hands-on experience purchasing both direct materials (e.g., packaging, raw materials, energy) and indirect goods/services (e.g., MRO, supplies). Proficiency in ERP systems with a strong grasp of procurement workflows (Requisition to Pay). A strategic mindset with excellent analytical, communication, and negotiation skills. Solid understanding of international procurement practices and commercial terms. Competency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Added Advantage: SAP P2P and SAP Ariba knowledge, particularly in cross-border environments. CIPS certification or progress toward completion. Experience using BI tools (e.g., Power BI) for data analysis and reporting. For more information on this role, apply via the link below or contact Jack Groves at VANRATH. ''Vanrath have been fantastic in helping me gain employment in my chosen field. They have been extremely helpful throughout, easy to talk to, and regularly went above and beyond to ensure I was happy at my current place of employment. I hope to continue to work with them in future.'' ''I would highly recommend VANRATH who I found to be thoroughly helpful, informative and efficient from first point of contact. Within a week of sending my CV I had interviewed and received an offer for a new role'' ''I found VANRATH to be friendly, professional, and genuinely interested in understanding exactly what the candidate is looking for. The entire process was smooth and efficient, I was kept informed throughout.'' ''VANRATH were an incredible help in finding me my new position. Within a day or two of uploading my CV to the platform, VANRATH were already on the phone looking to get to know me and my interests and motivations better. This consideration was then carried through to their job searches and reflected in the opportunities they then offered to me. I felt that they understood what it was I wanted from my career and cared enough to guide me with respect to that, even if it meant not necessarily jumping at the first opportunity that arose.'' ''Vanrath were massively helpful in helping me secure my new role. They provided tips and example questions for the interviews and were able to get quick feedback.'' ''In my eyes, VANRATH is the clear industry leader of recruitment in Northern Ireland. With a long history of placements, they have perfected the recruitment trade, which was made very clear to me during my time with them. Whether you plan to find your new role or work directly for VANRATH, you can expect nothing but the best.'' ''I would highly recommend Vanrath. Very quick response to my application. They have been extremely dedicated to finding me a role that was best suited to my future career development.'' ''Vanrath have been fantastic in helping me gain employment in my chosen field. Extremely helpful throughout, easy to talk to, and regularly went above and beyond to ensure I was happy at my current place of employment'' Skills: Procurement procurement manager specialist expert category supply chain Purchasing Benefits: fantastic benefits package