Global Head of Procurement / Leiter Einkauf (m/w/d)

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.  We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit WPP.com.   Why we're hiring: At WPP, we are on an exciting three-year journey called ‘Elevate 28’ to help our global teams work together in a more connected, collaborative, and efficient way.   Procurement is at the heart of this change. Over the past five years, our global procurement team has grown and evolved significantly—but we still have big goals to achieve. We are looking for a collaborative Global Head of Technology to join our procurement leadership team. In this role, you will help shape our procurement strategy and work with leaders across the business to deliver real, lasting value.   What you'll be doing: * As the Global Head of Technology, you will oversee WPP's annual technology spend of approximately $800 million. You will work closely with our Global CIO, Global CTO, and agency IT teams to get the best value from our technology investments, software assets, and supplier relationships. * You will lead a global team of 9 procurement professionals structured into two main areas: Software & AI (including software asset management),  IT Services, Telecom, Infrastructure & Cloud (including supplier relationship management) * You will also guide a supporting team of 4 colleagues based in our Mumbai operations hub. Your key responsibilities will include: * Strategic Planning: Create and lead a 3-to-5-year technology procurement plan that supports WPP’s business goals. * Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and support a diverse, multi-location team, helping them grow and succeed. * Relationship Building: Partner with senior leaders (including our Executive Committee) and key technology partners to build strong, collaborative relationships. * Value & Innovation: Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, manage risks, and bring innovative technology solutions to WPP. * Collaboration: Work alongside the Global Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) and Global CIO to align our supply chain with WPP's technology roadmap.   Who you'll be working with: Reporting to the Global Chief Procurement Officer, you'll work closely with the Global CIO, Global CTO, Agency Network CIOs and senior technology leaders across WPP. You'll lead a global team of procurement professionals across Software & AI, IT Services, Cloud and Infrastructure, while partnering with key technology suppliers to deliver strategic business outcomes.   What you'll need: * Leadership Experience: A proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing procurement teams in a global or complex organisation. * Technology Procurement Expertise: Deep experience managing complex technology categories (including software, cloud, and emerging tech like AI). * Strong Relationship Skills: The ability to build trust, influence decisions, and communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels. * Change Management: Experience helping teams navigate change and thrive in evolving, fast-paced environments. * Commercial Mindset: Strong negotiation skills and experience building mutually beneficial partnerships with major global technology suppliers.   Who you are: You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working. You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected. You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.   What we'll give you: Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work. Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry. Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge? #LI-Hybrid  We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. PLEASE READ OUR PRIVACY NOTICE (HTTPS://WWW.WPP.COM/EN/CAREERS/WPP-PRIVACY-POLICY-FOR-RECRUITMENT) FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE PROCESS THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE.

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company revolutionising the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop, and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective — providing operators with a decisive edge in contested environments. We are focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems — not future promises. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe, today. ABOUT THE TEAM Our procurement team, embedded within the supply chain department, consists of Category Buyers, Non-Production Buyers, and Prototype Buyers. Together, we ensure production continuity by sourcing essential parts, planning supplier orders, managing safety stock, and implementing multi-source strategies, while selecting strategic suppliers to support our continuous ramp-up. We thrive in an agile, high-workload environment, where success requires strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage and prioritize information from various channels. YOUR MISSION As the Teamlead Category Procurement , you will be responsible for the strategic oversight and operational excellence of a dedicated procurement team. Your mission is to lead complex supplier negotiations, implement robust sourcing strategies, and ensure a reliable, cost-efficient supply chain for all mission-critical components, directly supporting the rapid scaling of STARK’s R&D and production efforts for autonomous systems. RESPONSIBILITIES * Team Leadership and Development: Provide disciplinary and technical leadership to the Procurement team, mentoring team members (e.g., Procurement Managers, Buyers) and managing resource allocation to ensure departmental goals are met. * Risk and Supply Assurance: Proactively identify, analyze and mitigate critical supply chain risks, including managing long lead times and obsolescence.  * Drive the rapid identification, verification and implementation of second-source components in close coordination with Engineering to prevent production line stoppages. * Process and Tool Ownership: Oversee the optimization and implementation of digital procurement processes and tools utilizing ERP systems (Oracle NetSuite) for nventory, purchasing and data clean-up * Cross-Functional Interface: Serve as the main point of contact for internal stakeholders (R&D, Production, Quality, Logistics). Facilitate the New Product. * Introduction (NPI) process and manage Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) related to new suppliers or components. * Reporting & Governance: Report directly to the Global Head of Procurement including preparing reports and analyses on supply chain performance and evaluating/implementing supply chain management software and technologies. QUALIFICATIONS * Completed degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a comparable qualification. * Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement, operations or supply chain management, including demonstrated experience in a leadership or team lead role. * Profound knowledge in all areas of the supply chain, from forecasting and material planning to negotiation and troubleshooting of bottlenecks * Exceptional skills in contract negotiation and managing supplier performance in a fast-paced, defense-related environment. * Strong analytical and conceptual skills with a proven ability to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions. * Structured, independent, and goal-oriented way of working. * Strong teamwork skills and a willingness to take responsibility. NICE TO HAVE * Experience in the defense, aerospace, or high-tech electronics industry is highly valued. * Fluency in both German and English.