River Island
Head of Procurement
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Role Overview
This role will lead and shape procurement at River Island, taking ownership of a broad non-merchandise and indirect spend base. The role will provide commercial rigour across supplier relationships and third-party spend, establish effective visibility, governance and procurement tools, and build the procurement capability as the function grows.
Responsibilities
- Develop a clear, practical procurement strategy for non-merchandise and indirect spend, covering third-party spend.
- Build a clear and reliable view of suppliers, contracts, spend and commercial ownership, creating visibility where it does not yet exist.
- Personally lead key supplier negotiations and identify opportunities to improve commercial terms, reduce unnecessary cost and increase value.
- Review and challenge existing supplier arrangements, particularly across professional services and marketing, while partnering with senior stakeholders across the business.
- Put in place effective procurement processes, governance, data, tools and supplier/contract management practices, including tracking renewals and commitments.
- Build procurement capability and credibility across the business, including developing the team as the function grows.
Skills
- Senior procurement experience gained in a retail or consumer-facing business, ideally of a similar scale to River Island.
- Strong experience in indirect / non-merchandise procurement, particularly across categories such as professional services and marketing.
- Demonstrable track record of personally leading supplier negotiations and delivering commercial savings and improved value.
- Ability to analyse spend and supplier data and create clarity and structure where information is initially limited.
- Strong commercial judgement, confident negotiation skills, and the credibility to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
- Experience building, resetting or significantly improving a procurement function rather than only operating within a mature function.
- A genuinely hands-on approach, with the ability to work close to detail while also thinking strategically.
- Ability to move at pace and adapt in a fast-changing retail environment.
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About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
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What We Can Offer You
- 💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
- 🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
- 🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
- 🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
- 💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
- 💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
- 🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
- 💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
- 🩺 The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
- 🚗 An allowance supporting your commute to work.
- ☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
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