Head of Strategic Supplier Management - EMEA

Head of Strategic Supplier Management - EMEA page is loaded Head of Strategic Supplier Management - EMEA Apply remote type Hybrid Working locations London time type Full time posted on Posted Today time left to apply End Date: August 9, 2025 (30+ days left to apply) job requisition id R-10775

About The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen here at DS Smith, an International Paper Company for aHead of Strategic Supplier Management - EMEAto join the EMEA IT organisation within DS Smith. DS Smith has set out strategic goals to utilise IT to build further capabilities, enable transformation and embed quality in all its systems and processes. The role of Head of Strategic Supplier Management is key to that success. Within the role you will be responsible for the management of IT Suppliers and their services, ensuring they deliver to their contractual commitments. The Head of Strategic Supplier Management will report directly into the Service Delivery Director and will drive cohesion and standardisation across the IT organisation.

You will use your experience and expertise within Supplier Relationship Management to be successful in the role. You will develop and maintain key strategic supplier relationships, ensuring accountability for their delivery. In creating close and collaborative relationships you will leverage value as well as reduce risk to DS Smith. In addition, you will be responsible for highlighting and channeling Supplier Innovation and value add, working closely with internal teams to fully utilise their potential.

As the successful candidate you will provide experience in implementing supplier governance processes. You will work with the Supplier Management Team to use a consistent method of reporting using dashboards and scorecards to monitor supplier performance. Using this framework to garner and measure key insights into supplier performance. Providing leadership and direction, you will manage and resolve Supplier escalations, from either DS Smith or the Supplier, acting as the single point of contact for IT.

A key area of your role is portfolio & risk management of the suppliers. You will work closely with our procurement team to ensure appropriate supplier selection, on-boarding and off-boarding when required.

About You

• Highly experienced in IT Service Management or Supplier Management, preferably in complex, multi-national organisations

• Proven experience in working with the ITIL methodology

• Experience in strategic Supplier Management

• Ability to communicate and build relationships outside the IT function, and to foster a collaborative working relationship with various stakeholders

• Knowledge and use of Service Management software, preferably ServiceNow

• Effective Supplier Management focussing on continual service improvement and ensuring continued alignment with a changing Business.

• Professionalism, tenacity, and attention to detail particularly with performance reporting

• Strong interpersonal, management and influencing skills

• An extensive understanding of SLAs, OLAs, underpinning contracts and the relationship between them

What's In It For You

• Competitive salary

• Company Car

• Private Medical Insurance

• Company bonus

• Pension scheme

• Life assurance

• Income protection

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Electric Car Scheme & Annual Cycle to Work Scheme

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and paper making operations. We play a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials.

Through our purpose of 'Redefining Packaging for a Changing World' and our Now and Next sustainability strategy, we are committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society - replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Our bespokebox-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sits at the heart of this response.

Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and we are a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Our history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family.