Job title: Head of Indirect Procurement
Job type: Permanent
Emp type: Full-time
Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering / Industrial Automation
Functional Expertise: Supply Chain Management
Salary type: Annual
Salary: negotiable
Location: Germany or Netherlands
Job published: 2026-02-12
Job ID: 37618

Job Description

Alcott Global is retained by a leading international industrial company to search for a Head of Indirect Procurement to be based in Germany or Netherlands.

The Head of Indirect Procurement is responsible for leading the global strategy, governance, and execution of sourcing initiatives across all indirect spend categories, including IT, professional services, MRO, facilities, logistics, HR services, marketing, travel, and capital expenditures.

This role drives cost optimization, demand management, supplier performance, risk mitigation, and process standardization across regions and business units. The Director partners closely with Finance, IT, HR, Operations, Legal, and executive leadership to align procurement strategies with enterprise objectives while enhancing transparency, compliance, and value realization.

Key Responsibilities:  

  • Develop and implement global category strategies across all indirect spend areas.
  • Drive cost optimization, value creation, and demand management initiatives across business functions.
  • Lead complex commercial negotiations and strategic supplier contracting.
  • Establish strong procurement governance, policies, and compliance frameworks.
  • Partner with Finance to support budgeting, forecasting, savings validation, and working capital objectives.
  • Collaborate with IT, HR, Marketing, Facilities, and other functional leaders to align sourcing strategies with business needs.
  • Lead strategic sourcing initiatives including RFPs, RFQs, and supplier selection processes.
  • Implement supplier performance management programs, including KPIs, SLAs, and scorecards.
  • Drive consolidation of suppliers and standardization of services across regions where appropriate.
  • Identify and mitigate risks related to supplier concentration, financial stability, cybersecurity, and service continuity.
  • Oversee procurement technology platforms (e-sourcing, contract lifecycle management, P2P systems).
  • Champion procurement digital transformation and process automation initiatives.
  • Lead ESG, sustainability, and responsible sourcing efforts within indirect categories.
  • Build and develop a high-performing indirect procurement team.
  • Promote best practices in category management, stakeholder engagement, and total cost of ownership analysis.
  • Deliver measurable improvements in cost savings, process efficiency, compliance, and service quality.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field required. An MBA or a Master’s degree is an advantage.
  • 12+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain leadership roles.
  • 5+ years leading indirect procurement teams in a global or multi-site environment.
  • Experience managing diverse indirect categories such as IT, professional services, facilities, and MRO.
  • Demonstrated success in delivering enterprise-wide cost savings and procurement transformation initiatives.

Skills & Competencies:

  • Strong commercial acumen and negotiation expertise.
  • Deep understanding of indirect spend categories and supplier markets.
  • Experience with procurement systems (SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Ariba, Jaggaer, etc.).
  • Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including TCO and cost modeling.
  • Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills.
  • Experience in global procurement governance and compliance frameworks.