Russell Tobin
Head of Procurement
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Head of Marketing Procurement
Location: London (Hybrid – 2 days onsite per week for a 4-day working pattern, or 3 days onsite for full-time)
Contract Length: 10 Months (Maternity Cover)
Working Pattern: Preferred 4 days per week (Full-time may be considered)
Rate: £496 per day Umbrella
The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Marketing Procurement professional to lead a specialist procurement function within a large, global organisation. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving commercial value, supplier optimisation, procurement transformation, and significant cost savings across marketing and media spend.
Working closely with senior marketing, finance, legal, and procurement stakeholders, you will shape sourcing strategies, lead high-value supplier negotiations, improve procurement governance, and develop long-term supplier partnerships while managing a small team of procurement specialists.
This role is ideal for an experienced Marketing Procurement Lead, Senior Procurement Manager, or Category Lead looking to step into a broader leadership position.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement Strategy & Category Management
- Develop and implement procurement strategies across Marketing and Media categories.
- Build and execute category plans aligned with business objectives.
- Drive supplier consolidation initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- Lead the rollout and governance of a Preferred Supplier Programme.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement through spend analysis and procurement data.
Commercial Management
- Deliver annual procurement savings targets through strategic sourcing and negotiations.
- Lead complex commercial negotiations with strategic marketing agencies, technology vendors, and service providers.
- Drive value creation through supplier rationalisation and volume purchasing.
- Partner with Finance to ensure procurement initiatives support financial objectives and budgeting.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships.
- Develop Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) frameworks.
- Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure suppliers consistently deliver commercial value and service excellence.
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Contract Management
- Manage the full contract lifecycle from sourcing through renewal.
- Interpret and negotiate commercial contract terms alongside Legal and Compliance teams.
- Maintain contract governance, ensuring compliance and commercial protection.
- Develop centralised contract reporting and tracking processes.
Stakeholder Management
- Partner with senior Marketing leaders, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and business stakeholders.
- Influence procurement adoption across multiple business functions.
- Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
- Facilitate vendor selection processes including RFIs and RFPs.
Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop a small team of experienced Marketing Category Managers.
- Foster collaboration across procurement and marketing functions.
- Support procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Essential Experience
Applicants should demonstrate experience in most of the following:
- Significant experience within Marketing Procurement or Marketing Category Management.
- Procurement experience covering Marketing, Media, Creative, Digital or MarTech categories.
- Proven success delivering commercial savings programmes.
- Strong supplier negotiation and commercial management experience.
- Experience managing large, complex supplier contracts.
- Strategic sourcing and category management expertise.
- Experience running RFI/RFP procurement processes.
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) experience.
- Contract management throughout the full procurement lifecycle.
- Strong spend analysis and cost optimisation capability.
- Previous people management or leadership experience.
- Experience working within large, global or matrix organisations.
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and executive leadership.
Desirable Experience
- Procurement transformation programmes.
- Supplier consolidation initiatives.
- Preferred Supplier Programme implementation.
- Marketing technology (MarTech) procurement.
- Experience working with major marketing agencies or digital service providers.
- Exposure to AI-enabled marketing services or technology procurement.
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Key Skills
- Commercial negotiation
- Procurement strategy
- Category Management
- Marketing Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Contract Negotiation
- Contract Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Spend Analysis
- Cost Optimisation
- Procurement Governance
- Vendor Management
- Leadership
- Team Management
- Financial Acumen
- Commercial Awareness
- Influencing Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Change Management
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- Commercially driven with a strong focus on delivering measurable business value.
- A confident negotiator capable of managing high-value supplier relationships.
- Resilient and comfortable working within a fast-paced environment.
- Highly organised with excellent planning and prioritisation skills.
- A proactive self-starter able to work independently.
- Agile and adaptable in a constantly evolving business environment.
- Comfortable influencing senior stakeholders across multiple business functions.
- An effective leader who enjoys coaching and developing others.
Working Environment
You will be joining a collaborative, fast-paced organisation undergoing significant procurement transformation. The role involves close partnership with senior stakeholders across Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Procurement while supporting a global supplier network and driving consistent procurement practices across the business.
Interview Process
Stage 1
- 45-minute competency-based interview
- Focus on procurement expertise, leadership, stakeholder management, and behavioural competencies
Stage 2
- Final interview with senior business leadership
- Focus on strategic thinking, commercial delivery, savings programmes, and stakeholder influence
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