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

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What will this role achieve?

• The Procurement function is made of 120 professionals working across the world to create competitive advantage for pladis through mid-term sourcing strategies and strong supplier relationships. Our 2025 Procurement vision aims at delivering more value for the business along 5 key business deliverables: Supply Continuity, Cost Out, Cash Flow optimisation, Sustainability and Supplier Innovation!
• We work as a matrix organisation, with Global Categories using the pladis global size and Regional Procurement ensuring a strong connection and proximity with our 6 regions (UK & Ireland, Western Europe & Emerging markets, Middle East – North Africa – India, Turkey – Eastern Europe – Central Asia, APAC, and North America).
• Within UKI Regional Procurement, the Head of Packaging reports directly to the UKI Procurement Director, who in turn reports into the UK Managing Director. You will drive (in alignment with Global Packaging Procurement team) the Packaging Category (70 M£ spend).
• In addition, the role will play a key part in the Regional Procurement Leadership Team, developing strategy and leading procurement change initiatives.

What will be your key deliverables?

• Implementing all Procurement-driven processes & tools within your categories
• Delivering top class results across all 5 strategic dimensions of our mission via UKI Packaging team:
  • A 3-year productivity roadmap to achieve sustainable savings of a minimum of 3.5% per year, through reformulation of our materials or negotiation with our suppliers.
  • A clear sustainability roadmap (jointly with R&D) to reach the goals set by pladis, while crafting differentiation in the market
  • A clear innovation roadmap (jointly with R&D) to build extra value for consumers across our strategic innovation platforms.
  • A robust supply continuity plan to assess, anticipate and prevent any disruption to our supply chain.
  • A strong target to improve cash flow across our operations (payables, stocks of finished goods…).
• Build strong SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) with strategic suppliers, to build long-term relationship to demonstrate our size whenever it makes sense and get priority access to their sustainability / innovation programs.
• Support your team with the contract execution when significant breaches of service / quality are identified.
• Lead AOP (budgeting process) for packaging, and key cost-model assumptions (labour, energy, chemicals, etc.) in collaboration with Global Procurement
• Ensure that successful negotiations and supply agreements are implemented and handle all contracts for local sub-categories.

What would be your deliverables?

• Manage the supply base performance and lead issue resolution.
• Understand the market fundamentals on a regional and global scale to develop key supply partners to support pladis growth agenda.
• Be the face of Packaging procurement actively across pladis UKI and Global Procurement
• Establish the regional category governance framework aligned with global standards and policies.
• Review and report all Packaging activity in the pladis endorsed format aligned to the business drumbeat.
• Lead all regional sourcing and purchasing activities for the Category and manage all internal relationships as the need arises to deliver against the regional sourcing strategies and savings targets.
• Implement and provide input for the category management strategies set by the Global Team for cost reduction or value improvement that result in tangible benefits to the bottom line.
• Lead a team of direct reports to deliver against our 5 key strategic deliverables.

Bring your experience.

Essential

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience
• Experience in Procurement with a shown success in running a Category at regional or global level, in a worldwide organisation
• Ability to deal with ambiguity within a complex and multicultural environment
• Proven ability to work with cross-functional team, with a collaborative approach.

·Natural leadership & influence skills

• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to be hands on operationally as well as building a long term strategic vision.
• Advanced Excel & Power Point skills

Available to work in Chiswick 3 days a week / travel on request to factories & suppliers.

Desirable

• Master degree or equivalent experience
• Proficiency in another language is a +
• Previous work experience in matrix procurement organisation.

What will the interview process be?

• 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
• 2nd stage interview – 60 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.
• Leadership Success Model Assessment to be completed.
• Final interview based on Leadership Success Model Assessment/role competencies.

Some processes may differ, but we will keep you updated!

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Car allowance, paid monthly.
• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) – this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan
• Private medical Insurance
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• 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.
• Discounted gym membership
• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial Wellbeing Support
• Access to great training and development opportunities

Our Values

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, like 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.