The Head of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing

About the Voith GroupThe Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 20,700 employees, sales of 4,8 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.Voith Hydro is hiring for:The Head of Procurement and Strategic Sourcing York, PAPosition SummaryThe Head of, Procurement and Strategic Sourcing is responsible for leading the organization’s procurement function by providing strategic direction and operational leadership across category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, project procurement, and procurement governance.This position oversees Commodity Buyers and Strategic Sourcing Managers, while providing functional leadership, coaching, and governance to Project Procurement Managers to ensure procurement activities support successful project execution.The incumbent develops and implements procurement strategies, builds strategic supplier partnerships, improves cost competitiveness, mitigates supply chain risks, and establishes purchasing processes that support both operational excellence and successful project delivery. Working closely with Engineering, Sales, Project Management, Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance, Quality, and Legal teams, the Director ensures procurement activities contribute to the company’s overall business objectives.Key ResponsibilitiesProcurement LeadershipLead and develop the procurement organization, including Commodity Buyers and Strategic Sourcing Managers.Provide functional leadership, coaching, and governance to Project Procurement Managers.Establish procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.Develop organizational capabilities through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and performance management.Lead procurement transformation initiatives and continuous process improvement.Strategic Sourcing and Category ManagementDevelop and execute category management strategies for both direct and indirect spend.Analyze spending patterns and identify opportunities for cost reduction and supplier consolidation.Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.Lead supplier segmentation and supplier portfolio management.Establish long-term sourcing plans to improve supply continuity and competitiveness.Optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through strategic sourcing initiatives.Monitor commodity markets and identify associated risks and opportunities.Supplier Relationship ManagementDevelop strategic relationships with key suppliers.Lead supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and performance evaluation.Conduct business reviews with executives of strategic suppliers.Establish supplier performance dashboards and improvement programs.Lead supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery performance, innovation, and responsiveness.Resolve supplier performance issues and implement required corrective actions.Commercial and Contract ManagementLead commercial negotiations with strategic suppliers and subcontractors.Negotiate pricing, payment terms, commercial conditions, warranties, service agreements, and long-term contracts.Review and approve commercial terms and sourcing recommendations.Ensure compliance with company policies and contractual requirements.Collaborate with the Legal department on commercial agreements and contractual risk management.Project Procurement LeadershipSupport Project Procurement Managers during project planning and execution.Provide procurement leadership for major capital projects and customer programs.Review procurement execution plans for major projects.Participate in developing sourcing strategies for bids and tenders.Assist in resolving complex commercial issues and supplier disputes.Contribute to project risk assessments and mitigation plans.Ensure procurement activities are aligned with project schedules and customer commitments.Procurement Operations and GovernanceEstablish governance for Requests for Quotation (RFQs), bid evaluations, supplier selection, purchase order management, contract administration, and procurement performance tracking.Standardize procurement processes across the organization.Ensure compliance with company policies, ethical procurement standards, and regulatory requirements.Drive digital transformation within procurement and improvements to ERP processes.Improve procurement efficiency through automation and continuous improvement initiatives.Supply Chain Risk ManagementDevelop enterprise-wide supplier risk management strategies.Monitor market conditions and geopolitical risks.Implement supplier business continuity plans.Develop dual-sourcing strategies and alternative sourcing options.Identify supply constraints and implement required mitigation plans.Manage financial risks and supplier capacity assessments.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Commerce, Operations Management, or a related discipline.Professional certification such as SCMP, CPSM, CPSD, CIPS, PMP, or equivalent is an asset.Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in procurement and supply chain management.Minimum of 5 years of experience managing procurement teams in an industrial or manufacturing environment.Experience in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing, project-based manufacturing, EPC projects, or industrial equipment.Demonstrated success implementing strategic sourcing and category management initiatives.Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and long-term supplier contracts.Experience supporting project procurement within a matrix organization.Strong knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, IFS, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.Voith US Inc. is an EEO/AA/VEVRAA compliant Federal Contractor and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in the industry including people of color, LGBTQI+ community, women, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), Veterans, people of any age or family status. We embrace the competitive advantage that diversity brings and we strive to create a working environment that is inclusive of thought and talent.