Job Title: Procurement Director

Location: Stamford Bridge, London

Department: Procurement

Job Summary: Chelsea FC is seeking a strategic and experienced Procurement Director to lead our procurement team.

Our procurement team supports purchasing and supplier management across all aspects of the business, deriving value from our commercial agreements and ensuring we have the right suppliers, performance metrics and relationships in place to deliver our organisational goals.

The Procurement Director will be responsible for creating and implementing procurement strategies, managing suppliers and contracts and optimizing procurement processes to ensure cost-effectiveness and a competitive edge when it comes to procurement. They will also be tasked with leading a programme of procurement audits; evaluating the commercial and legal obligations, performance and commercial benefit to the organisation and advising the business on supplier rationalisation and best practice.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in strategic procurement, excellent negotiation skills, and a keen eye for detail. This role requires a high degree of financial and analytical skill, as well as the ability to see the big picture and maintain strong relationships with suppliers.

Key Responsibilities:

·     Lead the procurement team, enhancing its capability and capacity to add value to the business.

·     Work closely with the team to understand opportunities, bottlenecks and areas of improvement, highlighting business priorities.

·     Create and nurture a supportive culture where the team are encouraged to identify new ways of working, improving services and strive towards excellence.

·     Devise and optimise the procurement strategy, aligning to business goals and considering the different facets of the business and individual requirements of each function.

·     Negotiate contracts, improve prices and terms of business with suppliers, and review opportunities to make business savings.

·     Oversee the operation of the procurement department, including tracking and managing all club purchases.

·     Detect and address any unauthorized purchases, duplicate payments, or potentially fraudulent activities.

·     Evaluate the efficiency of procurement processes and identify areas for improvement. 

·     Review existing contracts with suppliers and vendors to ensure favourable terms.

·     Conduct in-depth procurement audits to ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and contract terms. 

·     Support business in identifying scope of contracts and agreements, identifying areas to maximise usage & reduce redundant costs.

·     Make informed decisions on supplier performance and benefit through data and reporting and act as a strategic advisor to the business.

·     Review and assess risks, providing reports and guidance to business on where relationships and commercial agreements fall short of the organisation’s expectations.

·     Analyse cost structures and identify opportunities for cost savings and value optimization. 

·     Perform commercial analysis to assess market trends, pricing strategies, and supplier performance. 

·     Communicate challenges and opportunities to the business, in particular to the Executive Leadership Team.

·     Build strong internal relationships across all areas of the business and educating decision makers on the importance of procurement best practice.

·     Working closely with Senior stakeholders on long term strategy, high profile contracts and maintaining strong supplier relationships.

Qualifications:

·     Significant experience in a senior purchasing management role.

·     In-depth vendor management experience.

·     Proven track record in developing and implementing strategies to deliver improved supplier cost performance.

·     Extensive knowledge of the fundamentals of purchasing.

·     Experience with industry-standard ERP systems.

·     Experience with global purchasing organizations and suppliers.

·     Strong leadership and professional skills.

·     Excellent negotiation and analytical skills.

Skills and Attributes:

·     Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

·     Strong financial and analytical skills.

·     Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

·     Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

·     High degree of integrity and professionalism.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.

This Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club.