Head of Global Direct Spend

Job Title

Head of Global Direct Spend

Job Description

Are you ready to make a big impact? Vanderlande is searching for an ambitious and strategic Head of Global Direct Spend to shape the future of our procurement strategy. Reporting directly to the CPO, you’ll oversee a €350 million spend, driving innovation and optimizing supply chains on a global scale. This is your chance to lead a talented team, collaborate with regional experts, and deliver tangible results that keep us ahead in a competitive market. If you thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, we want to hear from you!

Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions by maximizing value and minimizing risks via the procurement of goods and services in the most smart, cost-effective and sustainable way. We ensure a resilient and competitive supplier ecosystem and aim to advance towards best-in-class practices, and ensure the organization is efficient, effective, and future-proof. Furthermore, our procurement organization plays an important role in Vanderlande's transformation from an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) to a Configure-to-Order (CTO) business model. This new model aims at enhancing value for its customers through increased standardization, scalability, and more competitive solutions. 

What will you be doing?​ 

In your role as Head of Global Direct Spend, you'll be a change champion, responsible for setting up a new organizational unit and leading the establishment of the Global Direct Spend domain as a new entity within Vanderlande. You will manage a significant spend portfolio, playing a crucial role in aligning our global direct procurement activities with Vanderlande’s strategic goals and ensuring that global category strategies leverage synergies from the Configure-to-Order model to secure better prices and terms and conditions. You will develop a high-performing team of procurement professionals dedicated to optimizing direct spend strategies. 

Your responsibilities 

• Manage the global direct spend organization and team, as well as develop global procurement strategies that align with market dynamics, Vanderlande’s objectives, and industry best practices 

• Guide and cultivate a global and high-performing team, building category management capabilities, and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement 

• Provide strategic leadership to develop and implement global direct spend strategies, ensuring that category strategies leverage synergies from the Configure-to-Order model to secure better prices and terms and conditions 

• Maintain oversight of overall direct spend trends and market developments, including commodity price risk management (CPRM) and third-party manufacturing (TPM), to inform strategic procurement decisions 

• Work collaboratively with regional direct spend heads and cross-functional departments, ensuring alignment between procurement objectives 

• Guide the management and enhancement of supplier relationships to ensure the reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness of direct goods and services 

• Serve as a key point of contact and support discussions and processes during negotiations or contentious situations with strategic suppliers 

• Identify innovative solutions and cost-saving opportunities and guide procurement process optimization initiatives for global direct categories to boost efficiency and value 

• For your team, support the definition of KPIs, oversee budget management, and report on performance to ensure transparency and alignment with business objectives  

• Proactively identify and manage risks associated with global direct procurement, maintaining compliance and safeguarding operations 

Your profile

To be successful in this role, you should have: 

• At least 7 years of experience in procurement, with a strong focus on managing direct spend in global, complex environments, specifically within a project setting, for goods and services (e.g., mechanical and electrical services) 

• Proven experience and willingness to build a new organizational unit with a global footprint, demonstrating entrepreneurial skills such as visionary thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving 

• Demonstrate a proven track record of developing and implementing strategic procurement plans that align with organizational goals 

• Exhibit strong leadership abilities, with a talent for managing and developing high-performing procurement teams 

• Utilize an analytical mindset to drive data-informed decision-making and optimize procurement practices effectively. 

• Exceptional communication and negotia