Head of Procurement

What are you going to do?

On a day-to-day basis, you will oversee all procurement activities for the entire UWV. You will do this by providing hierarchical leadership and guidance to your own Procurement Department, as well as functional guidance to decentralized “procuring” departments. Your goal is to create consistency and unity across these procurement activities and departments. 

Restructuring and improvement will be the focus for the coming years and will be your primary responsibilities. Optimizing the foundation (P2P, regulatory compliance) and sourcing the highest-quality products and services (category management, developing predictive capabilities) are key priorities. You will directly manage a team of 10 people and indirectly oversee approximately 90 professionals. 

Some of the challenges you and the department will face in the coming years include:

• Optimizing the “supplier experience”
• Centralized, powerful 1 UWV Procurement
• Improving Compliance
• Becoming an even more attractive employer within the field
• Fundamentals in Order (P2P)
• Strategic sourcing through category management 

You will report to the Managing Director of Facilities Management. Together with the Head of IT, the Head of Business Control & Quality, the Head of Housing & Facilities, and the Executive Advisor, you will form the management team and contribute to the development of Facilities Management’s policies. You are expected to serve as a role model for your own staff in terms of behavior, professional conduct, and work methods (goal- and results-oriented). Shaping the department, engaging and retaining employees, and fostering successful collaboration with other departments and stakeholders require strong leadership skills to advance the organization. 

Since 2023, the Procurement department has been working to further professionalize the entire procurement function within the UWV. The department is still right in the middle of this process! The following mission is central to this effort: Internally, we are a supportive and natural partner. Externally, we are seen, chosen, and experienced as the prime example of a knowledgeable, committed, and reliable partner. 

What we expect from you

You are a leader with empathy, a sense of humor, and a people-oriented coaching style, and you are capable of delivering effective results. As a person, you are firm yet approachable toward the approximately 90 professionals, the members of the Management Team, the Executive Team of the Facilities Department, stakeholders, and suppliers.  

You will also have:

• Academic level of work and thinking, with strong analytical skills
• Experience managing professionals, both directly and indirectly
• Experience in optimizing, standardizing, and potentially centralizing procurement activities within large organizations
• Experience with implementing category management
• The ability to prioritize commercial and quality considerations in the public procurement sector
• Proven experience in optimizing the P2P supply chain
• Demonstrable knowledge of procurement law 

Leadership

At UWV, we believe it is important for our people to work together in a customer-focused and results-oriented manner. We expect you to feel comfortable with UWV’s leadership profile. The word “balance” is central to this profile. As a leader at UWV, you will operate in a complex world where you must act independently yet with political and administrative sensitivity, where you must innovate yet also provide stability, where you must coach yet also guide, and where you must keep an eye on the big picture yet also on the people involved. A detailed explanation is included in ourleadership profile. 

What can you expect from us?

• We offer you a place within an organization where we value you for who you are and what you bring to the table. For us, the development of our employees is a top priority. Our HR policy takes shape within a dynamic organization where every professional is given the freedom to work autonomously.
• You’ll be working in a fascinating field that directly impacts people’s lives. You’ll interact with a wide range of stakeholders and collaborate with people who are deeply committed to social causes.
• At the UWV, respect, openness, personal responsibility, and professionalism are always central to our work.
• We are offering a full-time position with a permanent contract. The position is classified in pay grade 14 in accordance with the UWV Collective Bargaining Agreement and carries a maximum gross monthly salary of €9,882, excluding vacation pay, year-end bonus, and the employer’s pension contribution. The final offer will depend on your experience and qualifications. 

A little more about us

Facilities Management Procurement Department

The Procurement Department is part of UWV Facilitair Bedrijf, abbreviated as FB Procurement. You will also represent the department on the Facilitair Bedrijf management team. FB Procurement is responsible for the entire procurement chain across the UWV. This means that all direct (goods/services directly for our clients) and indirect (goods/services for the UWV’s own operations) spending is handled by this department. In doing so, the UWV must comply with the Public Procurement Act. A solid understanding of legal matters is a significant advantage in this role. 

In our tendering and procurement processes, we are committed to a sustainable approach toward people, the environment, and society. Through sustainable procurement, FB Inkoop contributes to the UWV’s CSR objectives. 

In addition, we ensure that purchases are made under the right terms and conditions and at the best value for money. The FB Procurement department consists of several teams: Category Management, Procurement Advisory, and Contract and Supplier Management. These teams are supported by staff members and the FB Procurement secretariat. We work with thousands of suppliers and have nearly 900 million in annual procurement expenditures. 

UWV Facilities Management is one of the most dynamic divisions within UWV. Our field of work is diverse and encompasses many disciplines and areas of expertise, which we use—together with over 500 colleagues—to support UWV’s core processes. We are a versatile service provider relied upon daily by more than 22,000 UWV colleagues. This service is our calling card. Together, we ensure every day—both in front of and behind the scenes—that everything “works” for everyone. 

About the UWV

The UWV is an organization of people, for people. Together, we are working to build a society in which everyone can participate. Together as colleagues, together as the UWV, but above all together with the people who use our services and our partners in the field of employment and income. 

As part of our strategy, we aim to improve and expand our services and take them to the next level by placing greater emphasis on the human aspect and focusing more on prevention. We do this by providing personalized services, always keeping the human aspect at the forefront. Central to this is the experience from the perspective of individuals and employers, as well as the desired services. We strive to ensure that people feel seen, heard, and supported. If you’d like to learn moreaboutthe UWV’s strategy, visituwv.nl/overuwv. 

We are also committed to being a diverse and inclusive organization. Different perspectives, backgrounds, and insights enhance our intellectual capacity and expand our range of action, enabling us to best meet the needs of society. It doesn’t matter where you were born, what you believe in, how old you are, or whom you love. In this way, we work together to create an inclusive work environment where everyone feels at home and has the opportunity to grow. For more information about the UWV, please visit:About Us (uwv.nl). 

Is this something for you?

Details

An assessment and a reference check may be part of this process. This may also involve consulting public sources such as social media. You are not required to include your date of birth or gender in your resume or cover letter. 

More information about the job opening

• For more detailed information about this job opening, please contact Paul van Gassel, Managing Director of FB, at 06-53571276 or via emailat paul.vangassel@uwv.nl
• For more information about the application process, please contact Ine Paans, Senior MD Advisor, at 06-21980449 or by emailat ine.paans@uwv.nl. 

Apply

If this job opening interests you, please upload your resume and cover letter via the application button. In your cover letter, please explain why you are applying for this specific position, what your strengths are for the role, and what your responsibilities are in your current job. The position is open until May 14, 2025.  

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.