Job Description

We're looking for a Head of Procurement to lead the procurement function.


Focusing on responsible sourcing, governance and long term supplier development. The ideal candidate will bring robust procurement experience, having set a strategy and delivered it through a team.

Changing the world of pet food for good

We're Tails.com, a dog food subscription company with a big difference. We create truly tailored food for each and every dog we serve. We start by asking people a few simple questions about their dog. Then we use that information to create their dog's unique Tails.com recipe - so their dog gets exactly the nutrition they need, in the taste they love, delivered to their door every month. It's clever stuff.

We've got bold plans. Having created an entirely new category in pet food, we're now scaling fast - backed by Purina, one of the world's largest pet food companies. You'll join a bunch of smart people working towards the same goals - and a bunch of smart-ish dogs, all working on their own thing.
Together, we'll change the world of pet food for good.

People. Process. Planning

.

That's what sourcing and procurement at Tails.com is all about. People first - because
it takes good people to build the kind of long-term, trusted partnerships with suppliers
that we do, and it takes great people to create and deliver an exceptional product.

Process, because we can only do what we do by being able to see how the whole
system - physical product, digital product, and personal service - fits together. Then
we make these complex processes as simple and streamlined as possible. So our
team are pattern-spotters, insight-hunters, and change-makers; people ready to be
flexible, adaptable, and help us improve in everything we do.
And planning, because we're here to see as much of the future as we can - to make
sure we have enough food for the dogs we serve. We've been data-driven from day
one, finding new and better ways to draw the insights that help us plan for next week,
next year, or five years from now.

Build our brand

-------------------


We're building an international brand, fast. We set ambitious goals. We challenge and support each other in equal measure. At the pace we're moving, we prefer to test ideas and learn quickly rather than spend months building a business case. That means we celebrate when things go right, and we learn when things go wrong.
Sound like a team you want to join? Here's how you'll make a difference:

The Role

The Head of Procurement will work hands-on with senior internal and external stakeholders to build a resilient, cost-effective supply base that supports Tails.com's rapid growth. They will own the procurement strategy across critical direct and indirect categories, developing key supplier partnerships, optimising performance, and managing risk as our supply network grows in scale and complexity.


They will lead, coach, and develop the procurement team, working cross-functionally to deliver a robust, competitive supply network and execute strategy effectively.

# You will be responsible for:

Setting and leading the procurement strategy across ingredients, contract manufacturing, packaging, and indirect spend Building strong, long-term supplier partnerships that balance cost, quality, resilience, and innovation Leading complex commercial negotiations across strategic spend portfolios Working closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, R&D, and Commercial teams to support growth plans Developing procurement governance, processes, and ways of working fit for a high-growth environment Identifying and delivering cost, efficiency, and risk-reduction opportunities as we scale Driving continuous improvement, sustainability, and ethical sourcing across the supply base Leading, coaching, and developing a high-performing procurement team
# The skills you'll bring:

Strong strategic, commercial thinker with deep expertise in strategic procurement Proven experience working with contract manufacturers, ideally in FMCG or food Confident senior stakeholder manager with a track record of influencing and building trusted partnerships An experienced leader with a collaborative style and a history of developing high-performing teams A successful negotiator of complex, high-value strategic spend portfolios in fast-growth environments

What's in it for you?

Competitive salary, reviewed annually Annual bonus, based on company performance Flexible core hours, giving you true work life balance Hybrid role to ensure this role works for you 25 days of holiday (excluding bank holidays) which increases over time to a max of 27 days 9/10 day working week to enhance your wellbeing without a reduction in pay and leave allowance Optional 5 days unpaid leave and 1 paid volunteer day each year When you need a change of scenery, you can work from abroad 2 weeks every 6 months Health insurance for you, paid by Tails.com Extended maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay. 6 months at 70% pay Flexible paid care leave to support immediate dependants, people close to you and pets In house L&D team, with access to year round courses to help drive your development 50% discount on all Tails.com Discounted gym membership

What's next?

If this sounds like it matches your experience and what you'd love to do, we can't wait to hear from you! If you're unsure whether you fit our criteria exactly, please get in touch anyway. And because we believe that diverse teams perform better, we'd especially love to hear from you if you're from an under-represented demographic.

Here's a taster of how our recruitment process works:

Once you have applied your CV will be reviewed by the Talent Acquisition Team.*
If selected, you will then have a call with the TA Team who will tell you more about us and the role, as well as learning more about your skills and experience.*
Should you be successful, the next stage will be a video call with the hiring manager.*
If successful, you will be invited to present a task back to a panel of interviewers.*

Our Commitment

We're proud to be an active equal opportunity employer. We want to give everyone a fair chance to join us in changing the world of pet food for good. We do this by conducting a structured recruitment process for all candidates, as well as actively promoting our roles to communities that are under-represented at Tails.com.
During your interview process you'll meet some of our team with varying levels of responsibility and experience. We want to give every candidate a fair interview process and if you need any reasonable adjustments made, please let us know.