Head of Procurement

Your role in HEINEKEN

As a Head of Procurement, you will be responsible for delivering a competitive advantage to the Operating Company (OpCo) by leveraging both global and local supplier agreements, ensuring the timely availability of goods and services within defined specifications. It involves leading, managing, and developing the OpCo Procurement team while ensuring strict adherence to standard processes, governance, and internal controls. Additionally, the role plays a key part in driving cross-functional initiatives and fostering alignment across departments to support business goals.

In this role, you will also

• Develop and lead sourcing strategies across direct and indirect categories by managing supplier performance, negotiating contracts, and driving continuous improvement.
• Act as the key link between local and global procurement teams to align strategies, participate in global forums, and drive cross-country sourcing synergies.
• Forecast and plan raw material needs in collaboration with supply chain to ensure inventory levels support production while minimizing working capital.
• Ensure all procured goods meet internal quality, safety, and regulatory standards through close coordination with QA, Brewing, and Regulatory teams, including audit oversight.
• Embed safety, sustainability, and risk mitigation into sourcing processes while managing supplier risks and supporting business continuity plans.
• Ensure transparent procurement operations that comply with audit standards and internal controls, with robust documentation and risk mitigation practices.
• Manage procurement budgets and performance metrics while identifying opportunities for cost savings and value creation through strategic sourcing.
• Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team while fostering strong collaboration with functions like Production, Finance, R&D, and Marketing.
• Drive system optimization, data accuracy, and digital transformation to enhance procurement efficiency and reporting capabilities.
• Set clear team objectives, develop personal growth plans, address capability gaps, and drive continuous learning and succession planning.
• Oversee procurement-related financial reporting, supplier performance tracking, and master data accuracy while escalating issues as needed.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Commerce, or a technical field
• Professional procurement certification is an advantage
• Solid experience in Purchasing/Procurement, ideally within the beverage or FMCG industry
• Proven line management experience with strong people development capabilities
• Excellent communication and networking skills
• Experience in multi-cultural, multi-national, and multi-lingual environments
• Strong relationship management skills with a proactive approach to continuous improvement and problem-solving
• 8–10 years of relevant procurement experience