PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR - RETAIL/ F&B/ OPERATIONS

What you'll bring to the team

Location: London - Arbor Building

Division: Global Procurement

Role Overview

The Procurement Director is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, supplier management, and commercial optimization of the global retail, food, beverage and operational spend across Merlin Entertainments. The role will lead the development and implementation of a best-in-class category strategy, delivering value through cost optimization, supplier innovation, and risk management.

A key element of the role is to drive procurement transformation, including building structured category management frameworks, improving governance, and embedding procurement as a strategic partner to technology leadership.

The role will work closely with the COO Leadership, Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure category strategies deliver strong commercial value while supporting Merlin’s transformation and long term agenda.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy Development

Lead a team to develop and implement global category strategies

Establish the category management framework, including spend analysis, supplier segmentation, sourcing pipelines, and performance KPIs.

Build a multi-year strategic sourcing roadmap aligned with the strategy of Merlin Entertainments.

Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, cost reduction, and service optimization.

Procurement Transformation

Drive the maturity and transformation of the procurement function within the global category.

Implement best-practice sourcing processes, governance models, and procurement policies.

Introduce structured category management tools, supplier performance management frameworks, and contract lifecycle management practices.

Support the adoption of digital procurement tools, spend analytics, and sourcing platforms.

Lead initiatives to improve procurement visibility, compliance, and commercial discipline across spend.

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Leadership

Lead complex RFx processes, commercial negotiations, and contract development for high-value and high-risk suppliers.

Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation across spend.

Provide commercial leadership on strategic initiatives

Ensure strong contract structures covering SLAs, performance metrics, security, and risk mitigation.

Supplier Relationship Management

Develop and manage strategic supplier partnerships

Establish a supplier performance management framework including regular reviews and innovation roadmaps.

Collaborate with suppliers to deliver continuous improvement, innovation, and value.

Monitor supplier risk and ensure compliance with governance, cybersecurity, and data protection requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement

Act as a trusted commercial partner to the COO Leadership team and business stakeholders.

Provide guidance on sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and technology commercial models.

Build strong relationships with finance, legal, and risk teams to ensure effective contract governance.

Support business cases and investment decisions through commercial analysis and procurement insights.

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Qualifications & Experience

Key Skills & Experience

Essential

Extensive procurement experience in Retail, Food, Beverage and Operations categories within a complex global organization.

Strong experience developing and implementing category strategies from the ground up.

Demonstrated success delivering procurement transformation or maturity improvements.

Strong commercial negotiation and contract management skills.

Experience managing strategic supplier relationships with global technology vendors.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills with senior executives.

Desirable

MCIPS, CIPS, or equivalent procurement qualification.

Key Competencies

Strategic thinking and category leadership

Procurement transformation mindset

Commercial negotiation excellence

Stakeholder influence and collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Supplier relationship management

Change leadership

Success Measures

Delivery of measurable cost savings and value creation across managed spend

Successful implementation of category strategies

Improved procurement governance and compliance

Strong supplier performance and innovation outcomes

Procurement recognized as a strategic partner to Merlin leadership

Benefits

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects – ideal if you’re already fantastic and want to become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 25 days’ holiday and, of course, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, as well as 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO.

Pay Range

Competitive

At Merlin we welcome the world to our magical attractions and resorts every day and we want to reflect that same multicultural mix inside our business too. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves, have the same opportunities and thrive together. Because at Merlin, everyone matters!

Together, we work to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Although we understand that we'll always be learning and growing, we aim to be the most inclusive and flexible employer in our industry.