Head of Procurement

Location: Weybridge

Reporting to: Group Chief Financial Officer

The Prax Group has circa 1,450 employees in over 10 offices around the world. The Group’s headquarters is located in London, United Kingdom.

The Group’s downstream marketing and distribution businesses carry the Harvest Energy and Oil Tankstellen brands. Its midstream and upstream businesses, including refining, blending and exploration and production, carry the Prax brand. Our in-house distribution business carries the Axis Logistics brand. The Group is collectively identified as the Prax Group.

Our success has been achieved through our entrepreneurial spirit, dynamic team and lean structure. We are driven, forward thinking and passionate about our products, with a perpetual quest for quality performance across the board. We strive to limit our carbon footprint and to embrace the advent of transitional fuels.

The Group Head of Procurement is a newly created position responsible for defining and executing the procurement strategy for Prax Group. This will entail working with multiple stakeholders across the entirety of the Group, globally, to ensure a consistent approach to building strategic relationships with suppliers that will drive long term value.

As the Group Head of Procurement, we are looking for strategic sourcing expertise capable of supporting a global matrix organisation. We require a demonstrable background in evaluating and negotiating strategic relationships with suppliers across multiple categories including upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas.

A core focus of the Group Head of Procurement will be overseeing the procurement process including sourcing, purchasing as well as managing the procurement documentation and records.

You will be establishing robust due diligence and review procedures to ensure legal and compliance risks within vendor management are appropriately assessed and mitigated.

Main Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead and manage a professional, collaborative procurement service that adds value and ensures compliance with Procedure Rules and legislative requirements.
• Build a lean yet effective Group Purchasing function to support the wider business.
• Act as the principal adviser on procurement and commercial, supporting effective decision-making.
• Develop and implement the procurement strategy, working with multiple business units to achieve corporate objectives and deliver savings.
• Analyse financial data to identify savings opportunities and contract improvements.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationship management policies and ensure contract management roles are understood.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement policies, processes, and systems are fit for purpose, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• In depth knowledge and understanding of upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas.
• Expert and current knowledge of procurement best practices and substantial experience in leading a similar service.
• Thorough understanding of procurement regulations in multiple jurisdictions.
• Previous experience of building a high performing and fit for purpose procurement team.
• Experience in making strategic buying recommendations and building 3–5-year business plans to drive supplier relationships and business performance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and explain specialist information to non-specialists.
• Strong persuasion, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• Proven research skills with the ability to gather and interpret information effectively.
• Ability to identify and solve problems, developing effective solutions.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Excellent literacy and numeracy skills, with experience in writing reports, specifications, and agreements.
• Experience in financial processing, budget monitoring, and evaluating contract compliance/performance.
• Proven ability to manage large and complex projects.
• Relevant professional qualification (MCIPS or equivalent experience) and educated to degree level or equivalent standard.