Head of Business Procurement

Job description

The Company Christie’s, the world’s largest Art Business, is an incredibly exciting & enriching place to start or continue your career. Whether you work within one of our Specialist Art Departments, or in one of our more Operational teams, we are all working together with one common goal in mind: to continue the success of this 250 year old company, steeped in history, bringing fresh ideas whilst not forgetting our shared values; Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Responsibility & Relationships. Colleagues across all departments are truly passionate about what they do and it is inspiring to work with industry leaders across our business. Why This Role Matters The Head of Business Procurement serves as a senior business partner and commercial authority to Christie's business functions, shaping investment, supplier and value decisions with senior leaders across all non Christie's Technology Group (CTG) spend, with clear accountability for value realization, savings delivery and measurable outcomes. The role brings judgement, market insight and constructive challenge into business planning, supplier selection and major commitments. It drives better value, stronger governance and more confident decision making, while respecting the relationship led culture of a global heritage brand. How You'll Make an Impact Duties include but are not limited to the following: Business Partnering & Decision Support Lead enterprise level business engagement across all non CTG functions. Operate as a trusted advisor to executive and business leadership teams. Constructively challenge demand, investment cases and major commitments before approval. Build senior stakeholder confidence through insight, judgement and practical advice. Embed evidence based commercial decision making across business functions. Enterprise Value Strategy Set the commercial direction for non CTG spend categories aligned to enterprise priorities and investment plans. Prioritise enterprise value, risk and supplier opportunities across major business spend areas. Set clear value realization and savings objectives for major non CTG spend areas and track delivery against agreed plans. Strengthen business cases through market insight, market testing and value challenge. Govern the commercial assessment of major programmes, initiatives and supplier proposals. Ensure commercial implications are visible in strategic planning and governance forums. Supplier & Market Leadership Set supplier governance principles and frameworks that help business owners improve value, resilience, innovation and accountability. Enable and challenge business owned relationships with key non CTG suppliers and partners through commercial insight and escalation support. Lead the approach to complex negotiations and personally intervene where material value, risk or precedent requires it. Use market insight to challenge assumptions and improve outcomes. Establish the frameworks, tools and reporting needed for business owned governance of strategic non CTG supplier relationships. Value Creation & Risk Management Drive measurable value, savings and cost avoidance from major investments, suppliers and commercial decisions. Identify and manage commercial, supplier and delivery risks before they affect outcomes. Establish proportionate governance, reporting and escalation routes that support business owned supplier resilience, continuity and accountability. Ensure commercial commitments align to business objectives, risk appetite and value expectations. Improve contract discipline and business owned supplier management across non CTG functions through common frameworks, training and tools. Procurement Capability & Change Build commercial capability and confidence within business functions. Embed Procurement as a strategic advisor, not an operational gatekeeper. Lead adoption of the Procurement Office operating model across business functions. Embed practical disciplines that improve decision quality, value capture and accountability across business teams. Coach colleagues to operate with stronger business judgement and commercial confidence. What you’ll bring to the team Leadership Expectations The successful candidate will: Operate credibly with executive leaders, bringing clear commercial judgement to senior decisions. Challenge established thinking constructively, using insight and evidence to improve outcomes. Build alignment across business, finance, legal, CTG and supplier stakeholders. Inspire confidence through practical advice, market insight and sound judgement. Lead change in a relationship led environment with diplomacy, pace and accountability. Champion value creation, responsible governance and stronger commercial confidence across the business. Skills & Experience Essential Significant experience leading enterprise procurement or commercial functions in a complex global organisation. Track record of leading material sourcing, value creation and operating model change. Strong value strategy and business case development capability. Experience influencing senior executives and governing significant investments. Extensive experience enabling business owned supplier ecosystems through frameworks, governance and commercial escalation. Strong negotiation, commercial structuring and stakeholder management skills. Deep understanding of risk management, governance and regulatory environments. Experience leading change in complex, relationship led environments. Desirable Experience within luxury, art, professional services or highly relationship driven organisations. Experience establishing or transforming procurement operating models. Exposure to international supplier networks and global procurement environments. Success Measures Measurable value, savings and cost avoidance delivered across major non CTG spend. Stronger value and accountability from business owned strategic supplier relationships. Clearer governance, risk visibility and decision discipline across business functions. Improved senior stakeholder confidence in Procurement as a trusted business advisor. Sustained adoption of the Procurement Office operating model, evidenced by business uptake and improved compliance. Ideal Background Demonstrable senior procurement experience in business facing leadership roles. Experience leading cross functional value strategies in a global organisation. Proven success enabling value through business owned strategic supplier partnerships. Experience working with senior executives to shape investment and business decisions. Demonstrated ability to lead procurement as a strategic business partner rather than an operational function. What’s great about working for us 27 days annual leave + 1 day Birthday leave Christie’s Christmas office closure (guaranteed between 25th Dec – 2nd Jan) – in addition to annual leave: almost two weeks to fully switch off and spend time with friends and family Additional 1 week’s annual leave within the year of a 5-year anniversary i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th and so on Volunteering day: Take an additional day of annual leave to volunteer for a charitable organisation that’s important to you Donation matching of up to £500 per annum to help you support the organisations you care about Flexible Fitness Fund - £400 per year expense allowance for health and wellness related activity (taxable) Access to world-renowned art: with regular exhibitions in our galleries to wander around and exclusive guided tours hosted by specialist colleagues Discretionary Bonus (dependent on the business and employee performance payable in March each year) Generous retirement plan: We will double match your pension contribution up to 5% of your basic salary (Max 10% contribution from Christie’s) Private Health Insurance – no employee contribution needed, subsidised for other family members Dental Insurance – (may be extended at personal cost) Generous Income Protection Insurance in the event of accident, sickness or injury after 12 months Competitive Life Insurance policy from first day Employee Assistance Programme – access to personal advice and support services including counselling Eyecare vouchers (once a year) Cycle to Work scheme Christie’s Extras – discounts on over 800 retailers, holiday packages, dinners and weekly shops Robust family first policy: 16 weeks full pay on Maternity Leave Four-day week, for eight weeks, at full pay on return from Maternity Leave Dependent back-up care: 10 sessions/ days of childcare or eldercare per year The Stork Club: Our community of parents who meet regularly over breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea… * Christie’s reserves the right to change company benefits at any time Close Date: 4th October #LI-Hybrid