Head of Procurement

Overview

John Sisk & Son Ltd is a family-owned, international construction and engineering group dedicated to creating impactful infrastructure and buildings that influence how communities live and work, now and for the future. With operations across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, the company supports career growth and positive change through diverse projects in building, infrastructure, rail, energy, and off-site manufacturing.

The Head of Procurement role leads and continually enhances procurement activities across all divisions and regions of the Sisk Group. This leadership position holds responsibility for strategically and operationally managing the procurement of materials, products, manufactured systems, goods, and services vital for project delivery.

Leadership Scope

• Oversee the Purchasing teams located in Ireland and the UK.
• Manage the Category Management team that focuses on direct procurement of critical and high-value construction materials forming the permanent works.

Responsibilities

• Own the procurement strategy, governance, and execution for construction materials, manufactured systems, and goods.
• Manage preferred supplier and framework agreements and oversee supplier performance, governance, and risk.
• Drive consistent procurement practices across business units and countries.
• Champion balanced procurement decisions focusing on cost, quality, scheduling certainty, supply security, and sustainability.
• Lead category strategies for critical materials, directing sourcing, supplier selection, and resilience planning.
• Govern structured procurement processes including negotiations and contract awarding.
• Encourage standardization and aggregation to maximize group purchasing power.
• Lead procurement operations supporting pre-construction and active projects ensuring commercial robustness and compliance.
• Serve as senior escalation contact for supplier or material issues impacting project delivery.
• Develop group-wide supplier strategies, monitor performance focusing on quality, delivery, safety, sustainability, and compliance.
• Build strategic supplier and manufacturer relationships crucial to delivery capability.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with internal policies and partner with Legal and Finance for contract governance.
• Implement ethical and sustainable procurement principles within the supply chain.
• Advise senior managers and directors on procurement strategy aligned with market intelligence and production needs.
• Promote continuous improvement in systems, purchasing channels, and data accuracy to minimize non-compliant spend and enhance decision-making.
• Lead, mentor, and develop procurement and category management teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture with succession planning.

Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years in construction with leadership roles in supply chain, procurement, or commercial functions; quantity surveying background acceptable.
• Thorough knowledge of construction materials, building systems, manufacturing supply chains, contract and commercial principles, and cost control.
• Proven senior leadership and business influence capabilities.
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and stakeholder management.
• Professional qualifications such as CIPS or equivalent and a degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Procurement, or Supply Chain related discipline.
• Experience operating across Ireland, UK, or mainland Europe.

Additional Information

• Competitive salary package.
• 26 days annual leave entitlement.
• Pension scheme participation.
• Comprehensive health, wellness, and lifestyle benefits.
• Opportunities for career progression.
• Supportive people-first culture emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Commitment to fair and transparent recruitment practices meeting regional legal standards.
• Encouragement for all qualified candidates to apply, with openness to those who may not meet every criterion but show potential.

Equal Opportunities

The company values diversity and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age, or other protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are provided throughout recruitment processes.