CoE IT Lead (Supply Chain and Procurement) Netherlands…

Center of Excellence (CoE) Manager – Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability & R&D (IT)

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced IT leader to act as the primary bridge between business and technology across our Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability and R&D domains. This role is accountable for demand management, stakeholder engagement, portfolio delivery, supplier management, resource planning and technology strategy within a global FMCG environment.

The successful candidate will combine strong business domain expertise with hands‑on IT leadership experience, working closely with senior business stakeholders while leading teams, driving SAP-enabled transformation and ensuring successful delivery of technology initiatives that create measurable business value.

This is a leadership role with responsibility for people, budgets, suppliers, delivery outcomes and domain technology roadmaps. Best suited to candidates who have progressed from hands‑on SAP/ERP and Supply Chain technology roles into IT leadership positions within FMCG organisations, and who have direct experience partnering with Procurement, Sustainability and R&D functions.

Critical Requirements (Must-Have Experience)

Candidates must be able to demonstrate most or all of the following:

FMCG Industry Experience

• Significant experience working directly within a Food, Beverage or FMCG manufacturer.
• Experience must be gained within the FMCG organisation itself rather than through consulting, implementation partners, logistics providers or external suppliers.
• Strong understanding of FMCG business processes, operational challenges and transformation priorities.

Supply Chain & Logistics

• Proven experience supporting or leading technology initiatives across Supply Chain functions including Planning, Manufacturing, Logistics, Warehousing, Distribution, Inventory Management and Order Fulfilment.
• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain processes and supporting technologies.

Procurement

• Demonstrated experience supporting Procurement and Source-to-Pay processes.
• Experience working closely with Procurement teams on process improvement, digitalisation and transformation initiatives.
• Exposure to procurement platforms and supplier management solutions.

Research & Development (R&D) / Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

• Experience partnering directly with R&D, Product Development or Innovation teams.
• Understanding of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes and supporting technologies.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technology solutions within product development and innovation environments.

Sustainability

• Experience supporting Sustainability, ESG or Environmental programmes through technology solutions, reporting, analytics or digital transformation initiatives.
• Evidence of working directly with Sustainability stakeholders and contributing to sustainability‑related business objectives.

SAP Experience

• Strong SAP background including SAP ECC and/or SAP S/4HANA.
• Previous hands‑on SAP experience is required.
• Experience leading SAP-enabled business transformation initiatives across Supply Chain and Procurement domains.
• Understanding of SAP integrations and enterprise application landscapes.

IT Leadership & People Management

• Proven experience managing, coaching and developing IT teams.
• Experience leading internal employees, external partners and offshore resources.
• Ability to balance operational delivery, continuous improvement and strategic transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Relationship Management
• Act as the primary technology partner for Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability and R&D stakeholders.
• Develop trusted relationships with business leaders and actively manage expectations.
• Drive demand intake, prioritisation and business case development.
• Translate business strategy into technology roadmaps and delivery plans.
• Ensure alignment between business priorities and technology investments.

Project Delivery, Resource Demand & Staffing

• Own project and delivery accountability across the domain.
• Maintain demand and resource forecasts, ensuring alignment with investment plans and strategic priorities.
• Prioritise initiatives across competing business and technology demands.
• Manage resource allocation, capacity planning and delivery risks.Lead and develop high‑performing teams while ensuring successful project execution.

IT Supplier & Vendor Relationship Management

• Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships.
• Participate in supplier selection, evaluation and governance.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed SLAs and business outcomes.
• Manage escalations, service improvements and supplier transitions where required.

Technology Innovation Management

• Drive innovation initiatives across Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability and R&D.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends to identify opportunities for business value creation.
• Support automation, analytics, AI and digital transformation initiatives.

Domain Architecture

• Define and maintain business domain architecture and technology roadmaps.
• Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards and future‑state technology strategy.
• Participate in solution reviews and governance processes.

Domain Finance & Delivery Management

• Own domain budgets and investment plans.
• Ensure delivery of business value from technology investments.
• Monitor portfolio performance, costs and resource utilisation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 8 years of people leadership experience managing and developing IT teams.
• Proven experience leading IT functions, programmes or portfolios within a FMCG organisation.
• Strong experience across Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Sustainability and/or R&D domains.
• Previous SAP ECC and/or SAP S/4HANA experience, including hands‑on experience earlier in career.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage effectively at both operational and executive levels.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, contracts and technology investments.
• Experience leading complex transformation initiatives within international organisations.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Travel

Travel required approximately 10-20% of the time, typically not exceeding one week per month.