Head of Procurement

Role overview

John Sisk & Son Ltd is looking for a Head of Procurement to steer and continuously refine procurement activity across the wider group, spanning multiple business units and regions. The position is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of sourcing materials, products, manufactured systems, goods, and services needed to deliver projects successfully.

This leadership role supports teams in Ireland and the UK, as well as the category management function focused on direct procurement of high-value and essential construction materials and products used in permanent works. Working closely with senior leaders and directors, the role aims to strengthen group buying power, protect supply continuity, reduce risk, and create consistent procurement practices across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe.

Procurement scope

• Construction and building materials
• Manufactured systems and components that become part of the works
• Long-lead, high-value, and strategically important materials
• Preferred supplier and framework arrangements for materials and products
• Selected indirect goods and services where relevant
• Supplier performance oversight, commercial control, and risk management within scope

Key responsibilities

In this position, you will own procurement strategy, governance, and execution for the following areas:

• Set and deliver a group-wide procurement approach for materials, products, and services.
• Create consistency in procurement methods across regions and business units.
• Promote a best-value mindset that balances price, quality, programme certainty, supply risk, and sustainability.
• Develop category strategies for critical materials, products, and building systems, including sourcing plans, supplier selection, and resilience measures.
• Manage structured sourcing exercises, negotiations, and award decisions for covered categories.
• Encourage standardisation and consolidated demand where it improves leverage for the group.
• Lead procurement teams so they can support both pre-construction activity and live projects effectively.
• Ensure buying activity is timely, compliant, and commercially sound.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for material and supplier issues affecting project delivery.
• Design and oversee preferred supplier strategies for materials and products across the group.
• Implement supplier performance management covering quality, delivery, safety, sustainability, and commercial compliance.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key manufacturers and suppliers that are vital to delivery capability.
• Ensure all procurement activity follows group procurement and P2P policies, including approval thresholds.
• Work with Legal and Finance to ensure strong contracting and governance for high-value buying.
• Embed ethical, responsible, and sustainable procurement practices throughout the materials supply chain.
• Advise Managing Directors, Project Directors, and Commercial and Pre-Construction leadership on materials and products procurement strategy.
• Collaborate with the Supply Chain Insights team on market trends, inflation, capacity constraints, and mitigation actions.
• Maintain clear boundaries and alignment with Commercial and Plant leadership to avoid duplication.
• Improve procurement systems, buying channels, and spend data quality on an ongoing basis.
• Use data to reduce off-process buying, increase compliance, and strengthen decision-making.
• Lead, coach, and develop procurement and category management teams across the group.
• Build capability, succession depth, and technical expertise in materials and product procurement.
• Encourage a collaborative, high-performance, values-led culture.

Experience and qualifications

• At least 15 years of experience in construction, with senior responsibility across supply chain, procurement, and/or commercial functions; candidates with quantity surveying backgrounds are also considered.
• Strong understanding of construction materials, building systems, and manufacturing supply chains, and how they connect with commercial delivery and project controls.
• Solid grasp of contract and commercial principles, plus cost management in a construction setting.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at senior leadership level and influence across a complex organisation.
• Strong negotiation skills, commercial judgement, and stakeholder management capability.
• CIPS or an equivalent professional qualification.
• A degree or professional qualification in Business/Commerce, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience.
• Experience working across Ireland, the UK, and/or mainland Europe.

Benefits and additional information

The company offers a rewards package that includes more than salary, with benefits such as 26 days of annual leave, a pension scheme, comprehensive health, wellbeing and lifestyle support, career development opportunities, and additional benefits through its Total Rewards programme.

Recruitment is handled directly by the internal recruitment team. Unsolicited CVs or contact from unapproved agencies are not accepted, and no fees will be paid for such submissions.

The employer is committed to equal opportunity hiring and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, family status, or other protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments can be provided during recruitment to support candidates.

Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every requirement, as skills, experience, and potential are valued. Recruitment materials are intended to align with relevant Irish and UK equality legislation and the EU Pay Transparency Directive to support fairness, transparency, and equal access.