Senior Director Purchasing

The opportunity Our client is a major player in energy, utilities and infrastructure, investing heavily in the energy transition and long-lived assets. They are appointing a Senior Director of Procurement to own indirect spend across professional services and HR services from Berlin. This is a strategic leadership role. You will set category strategy for some of the most complex and sensitive spend in the business, build a high-performing team, and act as the trusted partner to the CFO, CHRO, General Counsel and business unit leaders. Scope Professional services • Management and strategy consulting, technology and engineering advisory • Legal, audit, tax and regulatory advisory • Market research, communications and other corporate services HR services • Recruitment, executive search and RPO • Contingent workforce and managed service provider (MSP) programmes • Payroll, benefits, pensions and mobility or relocation • Learning and development, and employee engagement services Key responsibilities • Define and deliver the indirect category strategy for professional and HR services, with clear savings, value and risk targets • Lead complex sourcing events and negotiations, including multi-year framework agreements and preferred supplier panels • Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and constructively challenge demand before spend is committed • Design and run a contingent labour and external workforce model that is compliant with German labour law and works council requirements • Strengthen governance: policy, approval thresholds, supplier onboarding, consultant use controls and spend transparency • Ensure compliance with applicable procurement rules for the sector, including EU sector procurement regulations and supply chain due diligence obligations • Drive supplier performance management, rate card discipline and demand management • Partner with Digital and Finance on source-to-pay, spend analytics and AI-enabled sourcing • Lead, develop and inspire a team of category managers and sourcing specialists globally • Contribute to the wider procurement leadership team and the group transformation agenda What you bring Experience • 12+ years in procurement, including 5+ years leading senior teams • Proven record sourcing professional services and HR services at scale, ideally in energy, utilities, infrastructure or another asset-heavy sector • Track record of delivering measurable savings and value in indirect categories • Experience of contingent workforce or MSP models in Germany or the wider EU Capabilities • Executive presence with the ability to influence CFO, CHRO and Board-level stakeholders • Strong negotiation and commercial skills across consulting, legal and HR suppliers • Working knowledge of German employment and co-determination frameworks • Digital fluency in source-to-pay, spend analytics and AI in procurement • Change leadership experience in a regulated or project-driven environment Education and languages • University degree in business, economics, engineering or a related field • MCIPS, CPSM or an MBA is advantageous • Fluent English required; German strongly preferred What is on offer • A high-visibility leadership role in a sector central to the energy transition • Competitive base salary, bonus and long-term incentive • Hybrid working, relocation support where relevant, and strong benefits • The chance to shape how a large organisation buys and manages external expertise