Head of Direct Procurement – Group Procurement

DFDS is looking for an ambitious and strategically strong person to take on the role as Head of Direct Procurement with the purpose of strengthening the Group Direct Procurement team and bringing the procurement function in DFDS to the next level. This role will be part of the Group Procurement management team, where the overall decisions are taken towards how Group Procurement in DFDS should develop and continuously improve and move towards procurement excellence as a fully strategic integrated business partner.

Your responsibilities

Your overall responsibility is to continuously optimize and achieve the lowest possible total cost for the company and to minimize contractual and commercial risks within the direct procurement area, while taking quality, risk, environmental and social aspects into due consideration.

As Head of Direct Procurement, you will have management responsibility for 6 employees: 4 Category Managers, 1 Sourcing Manager and a Business Analyst. You will manage and develop your employees to deliver value to DFDS, but also take responsibility for their own projects for that same purpose.

You have a key task in developing a strategic vison for a multiple category area, in collaboration with the team and relevant stakeholders across the business. The Direct Procurement team covers multiple sub-categories, such as Technical Marine, Ports & Stevedoring, Bunker (in Turkey), Logistics & Equipment, so there is a huge potential for impact here. More specifically, your tasks will be:

• Ensure that Direct Procurement is an important strategic partner for the EVPs within Ferry and Logistics
• Overall Direct Category strategy development and category management

• Maintain and develop relationships with senior stakeholders across the Group
• Active collaboration with internal stakeholders in identifying opportunities for group procurements involvement in driving value to DFDS
• Act as a professional integrated partner to the business by challenging our stakeholders
• Build and manage a strong team
• Drive results through adoption of procurement tools such as e-Sourcing & e-Auction tools, Contract Management, Spend management tool, etc.

As part of driving your strategic projects you will be responsible for;

• Driving analytical insights across various categories including complex calculations regarding decision-making
• Creating, run, and analyze tenders.
• Leading the preparation and execute negotiations in cross-functional teams and finalize agreements with suppliers.
• Building a strong network both internally in DFDS and externally with suppliers and other stakeholders
• Optimizing of purchasing processes and procedures in close cooperation with the Indirect procurement team, the Operations and Digital Procurement team

Professional Qualifications  

Our internal stakeholders are highly skilled & knowledgeable, so it is important that you have the right interpersonal skills, are able & willing to dig down into the details, and work with a variety of cultures and personalities. You thrive with having a lot on your plate, and you are a true team player with the ability to challenge the current situation based on excellent communication and sharp analytical skills.

• A minimum of 6 - 10 years relevant procurement experience.
• You hold an academic degree, e.g. an M.Sc. in Business Administration, MBA etc.

• In-depth knowledge and experience on tender process, execution, and negotiation strategies
• In-depth functional knowledge of supply chain management tools, techniques, and processes
• You thrive in having management responsibility and have the ability to develop and support and motivate your team members.
• You have Project management skills, including ability to develop business plans, plan a project, drive problem solving and manage a team.
• You thrive with creating data driven insights and easily understand data in order to make business cases and take strategic decisions.
• Your interpersonal skills at all levels of the organization and across cultures are excellent
• As a person you are result oriented while keeping a focus on customer’s needs
• You have documented experience in achieving results in strategic procurement, supplier performance and supplier management, while maintaining a good balance with stakeholder management.

Personal Profile

• You are a strong role model for your team and work well with your colleagues to reach both own and common goals.
• You can work at a fast pace and be able to handle changing projects and priorities.
• Your English language skills, oral and written, are excellent and you are a proficient IT user
• Experience in procurement in the maritime or logistics industry or another international organization is an advantage, but not a requirement

We offer

A flexible working environment in an informal and international organization, and soon moving to a new headquarter that is currently being built and ready end of 2021. A very exciting and challenging job with a lot of variety and great opportunity to develop and influence your job content. The position is based at our office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the job provides a wide network of colleagues across the DFDS Group across Europe.

Travel days
In order to perform to the expectations of the role you have to anticipate 15 -25 travel days a year. 

Interested?

If you find the job interesting and you fulfill the expectations, please submit your CV and application in English. We will evaluate applications on an ongoing basis and all applications will be treated confidentially. For questions about the position please contact VP, Group Procurement, Pernille Hüls Dyrmose at pernille.dyrmose@dfds.com.

DFDS is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age and citizenship.