Regional Purchasing Director

Regional Purchasing Director

Croda is a FTSE100 organisation where we truly believe our people are our difference and this, along with our values of Innovative, Responsible and Together, create ‘our Purpose, Smart science to improve lives™’. With over 5,000 employees globally, we specialise in the research and development of innovative ingredients for the Life Science and Consumer Care markets.

We are focused on developing our inclusive culture through accountability, collaboration and innovation. As part of Croda, you will join a team committed to protecting the safety, health and wellbeing of our people and acting responsibly towards the environment, helping us build a safe, inclusive and sustainable organisation.

We are seeking an experienced Regional Purchasing Director to lead procurement operations across our European business. This is a key leadership opportunity to optimise a significant spend portfolio, strengthen supply chain resilience, influence business performance and build world-class supplier partnerships that support Croda's ambitious growth plans.

This role offers the opportunity to make an operational impact as a key procurement leader for the region. You will work closely with manufacturing, commercial, supply chain and finance leaders to ensure Croda secures the right materials, services and energy solutions to support our customers while driving sustainable value across the business.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Significant leadership experience within regional or global procurement in a manufacturing or process industry environment
• Expert in achieving cost effective, risk managed sourcing
• Proven track record in managing key supplier relationships and fronting high-level negotiations
• Excellent communicator demonstrating the highest levels of persuasion and influence both externally and internally and at all levels
• Experience of managing and developing a small team of purchasing professionals
• Creative business problem solving aligned with skills in managing complex supply chains and focussing on both value and cost
• Strong financial acumen with drive to achieve commercial results
• Intimate knowledge of contract law and all aspects of competition law
• Knowledge of UK Bribery Act, REACH, EUDR, CBAM and other purchasing compliance regulations within EU region
• Degree qualified in a Science related discipline
• Membership of Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply. Qualified to level 5 minimum is preferred
  

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Deliver sustainable bottom line growth and contribution to Group cash targets via risk-managed sourcing of energy, goods and services at lowest acquisition cost.
• Accountable for the documentation and roll-out of Group Purchasing Policies in consultation with other regions and the implementation of those policies within Croda Europe
• Develop and implement regional purchasing strategy encompassing people development; business support, category management; risk-managed sourcing, supplier relationship management; distributor strategy; technology utilisation and performance indicators
• Leadership of strongly collaborative and long-term strategic vendor relationships aimed at delivery of sustainable cost savings that make a measurable difference to the bottom line
• Lead negotiations of very high value European (and occasionally International) contracts
• Direct line management of a small team of purchasing professionals and dotted line responsibility for all local purchasing managers across multiple sites and countries
• Provide regular information, data and expert opinion and strongly influence the commercial teams in their pricing and contracting decisions. Anticipate the impact of external factors on Croda's purchases and make appropriate decisions to mitigate risk within Group guidelines
• Adopt and implement industry best purchasing practice and develop Croda's processes and systems to suit
• You will play an important role in embedding a safety culture where people look out for one another, feel able to speak up, and work together to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of colleagues, communities and the environment.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid position based at our Cowick head office in Snaith, East Yorkshire.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the hiring process or experience any issues with our online application process, please email candidate@croda.com.


Why Croda?

At Croda, we believe our people are our difference. We are people-led, driven by the desire to do good and deliver value, a unifying principle shaped by all the great people that have travelled through Croda since our beginning in 1925. We pride ourselves on bringing together diverse teams and talents from across the globe and, guided by our values of Responsible, Innovative, and Together, we are passionate about building an inclusive, collaborative, and diverse organisation with innovation and customer focus underpinning all that we do.

As part of Croda, you will join a team committed to protecting the safety, health and wellbeing of our people and acting responsibly towards the environment, helping us build a safe, inclusive and sustainable organisation.


Croda is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.