Location:
Nagoya, Japan

Reports to:
Procurement Director

Start date:
ASAP

End date:
Dec 2026

Job Overview:

GL events Japan K.K. is the Japanese branch of GL events, a global leader in integrated event solutions and services. Leveraging decades of expertise in major international sporting events; including the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup and many others—the company delivers end-to-end solutions across event space design, overlay and temporary infrastructure, operations, logistics, and technical support. As part of GL events Group, operating in 20+ countries with over 5,000 employees and €1.3bn in revenues, GL events Japan supports world-class projects like Expo 2025 Osaka and the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya.

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized
Head of Procurement.
You will be responsible for the procurement strategy and performance across a major project or a portfolio of strategic projects. As a key interface between project teams, procurement leadership, suppliers, and support functions (finance, legal, technical), you are to ensure the competitiveness, quality, timeliness, and compliance of all project-related purchases. You are to lead the project procurement team and secure contractual commitments with suppliers and subcontractors.

Key Respnsibilities:

As a Head f Prcurement, yu will be respnsible fr:

Strategic procurement leadership

• Define and deploy the procurement strategy for the project, aligned with operational, financial, and contractual objectives.
• Identify critical needs in collaboration with project teams (schedules, specifications, risks).
• Develop a consolidated procurement plan including milestones, priorities, budgets, and target suppliers.

Team management and coordination

• Lead and manage project procurement resources (Project Buyers, Contract Managers, etc.).
• Structure work methods and processes for tendering, negotiation, and contracting.
• Ensure alignment between procurement strategy, project execution, and client constraints.

Sourcing & negotiation

• Oversee strategic tenders and select suppliers/subcontractors best suited to the project.
• Lead key negotiations (pricing, terms and conditions, delivery timelines, warranties, penalties, etc.).
• Ensure customer requirements are appropriately integrated into supplier contracts.

Execution monitoring & performance

• Monitor project procurement performance (KPIs, cost, quality, timelines, disputes).
• Manage supplier risks, contractual alerts, and renegotiations when required.
• Consolidate procurement reporting for the project management team and procurement leadership.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Work closely with Finance, Legal, Operations, Logistics, and other support teams.
• Participate in project meetings, supplier arbitrations, and steering committees.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies (CSR, ethics, compliance, governance).

Qualifications:

• Japanese and English speaker,
• Master's degree in Procurement, Engineering, Business or equivalent.
• Solid experience (8–12 years) in project procurement management for complex environments, ideally across multiple sites or in international settings.
• Experience in event management or live operations is a strong plus.
• Strong leadership, autonomy, rigor, and result-oriented mindset.
• Proven expertise in negotiation techniques, contracts, and budget control.
• Technical acumen to effectively engage with technical teams and challenge proposed solutions.
• Strong project management mindset, with anticipation and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in procurement tools and ERP systems.