Procurement Director – Global HR Services

Procurement Director – Global HR Services

Macclesfield

Introduction to the role:

The role sits on the EMEA Procurement Leadership Team, reporting to the Head of Procurement for EMEA Commercial and Global Professional Services. The role will be responsible for the Global HR Services Categories with worldwide responsibility. It will coordinate a team of Global and Regional Category Managers to define category strategies and lead the category plans execution in the different regions and countries, ensuring strong and collaborative relationships are built and maintained with internal and external partners to maximise the value, efficiencies and savings delivered.

You will play a key leadership role providing overall management and leadership to a category family globally and will be in charge of successful delivery of ongoing HR Services enterprise projects. You will ensure that sourcing and procurement strategies are aligned to corporate strategy and delivered with existing and future suppliers, particularly incorporating AI and digital trends. As part of the EMEA and Global Prof Services Procurement Leadership Team, you will also be driving Global Procurement strategy more holistically, e.g. in areas such as speed or sustainability, preferred supplier adoption and automation.

Typical Accountabilities:

Strategy:

• Accountable for designing, and implementation of category, region and market strategies to optimize business efficiency.

• Accountable for category management globally including strategic sourcing, contract and risk management.

• Accountable for developing and maintaining expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations, with a particular focus on driving the AI / digital agenda.

• Works with the Global Procurement network in understanding the global spend and identifying opportunities to increase quality and improve value for money.

• Facilitates implementation of procurement change initiatives within category to improve business performance.

• Drives innovation within the Procurement function.

Leadership:

• Line-management and matrix management of a (global, regional and local) Procurement team

• Responsible for building and developing a robust, cohesive business-oriented Procurement function in the areas of strategy, demand and services delivery, demonstrating clear value add to the business

• Leads, Coaches and develops professional aspects of Procurement team.

Business and Supplier Engagement:

• Develops an extensive understanding of customer needs and the business environment. Builds strong relationship with customers and ensures customer satisfaction.

• Continuously identifies potential improvement opportunities and innovative procurement solutions that provide cashable savings and process efficiencies for the organization.

• Address Supplier issues to ensure the highest level of service delivery. Maintains contractual and business relationships with Suppliers to the highest standards.

• Fosters trusted relationships with vendors to achieve better pricing and quality of services

• Directs new initiatives and improvement programmes aimed at ensuring compliance, continuous

• improvement, technical excellence and improving cost-effectiveness.

• Develops senior level relationships in order to resolve issues, optimise business performance and develop future improvement opportunities. o Instils the highest standards of compliance and ethics consistently across AZ.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Master’s degree in Business Administration or International Management, Supply Chain & Logistics (or equivalent experience)

• Significant procurement and ideally HR Services Category Management experience

• Digital-first thinker / strong AI adopter – able to (re)-imagine the future of HR Services

• Strategic Category Management experience, particularly in procurement category strategy development and implementation, experience in sourcing, contracting, supplier negotiation, SRM are essential

• Experience in handling procurement processes and tools, e.g. Coupa modules for S2C, P2P, Value Tracking

• Excellence in applying cost models, such as should-cost modelling, TCO approaches, make-or-buy analysis

• Experience of people management, ideally team leadership

• Ability to communicate, build relationships and influence senior management

• Proven ability to manage change

• Proven track record of entrepreneurial thinking and ability to deliver truly global, complex program initiatives

• High degree of resilience and working with risk and in ambiguous situations

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience of working in a corporate, matrix environment

• Experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry

The role is posted for the primary location of Macclesfield, UK. Depending on the candidate profile, we may consider applications for other core locations of AstraZeneca, with a preference for UK locations (Cambridge, Luton)

What’s next?

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply Today!

Date Posted

24-Mar-2026

Closing Date

05-Apr-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.