Head of Strategic Initiatives

The Role

Location: Hamburg Job Grade: GG4 The Head of Strategic Initiatives leads the Strategic Initiatives Department. The role is responsible for ensuring that the pipeline of Strategic initiatives is sufficient to deliver the GSC long-term strategic objectives. It does it by shaping, analysing, and governing high‑impact strategic initiatives that deliver step‑change improvements in total value across the end‑to‑end Global Supply Chain, with a typical planning horizon of 2–5 years. Operating across all product categories, geographies, and supply chain functions, the role addresses complex and ambiguous challenges spanning network design, value chain optimisation, make‑or‑buy decisions, advanced analytics, and digital enablement. The department applies a consulting style approach: framing problems, developing hypotheses, running rigorous analyses, and translating insights into fact‑based recommendations to support senior decision‑making. Implementation ownership remains with functional teams; the Strategic Initiatives function provides strategic direction, analytical rigour, and executive alignment. A core accountability of the role is to lead Strategic Global Supply Chain Network Design and Optimisation, covering sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution. This includes defining forward‑looking network strategies, evaluating structural trade‑offs, and optimising the global footprint to balance cost, service, resilience, risk, inventory, cash, and future capability requirements. Network design insights directly inform long‑term strategic choices, investment decisions, and business planning. The role also leads the Global Supply Chain Total Value Loss Analysis—a recurring, fact‑based assessment of cost, service, inventory, cash, resilience, and future capability performance across the supply chain. The objective is to identify gaps between “ideal” and “actual” performance, quantify the value at stake, and translate insights into prioritised strategic initiatives embedded into Global Supply Chain and Group business planning processes. In addition, the Head of Strategic Initiatives identifies, shapes, and governs the portfolio of strategic initiatives across Global Supply Chain to fulfil Group Strategy ambitions. Acting as a strategic integrator between Group Strategy and GSC leadership, the role ensures disciplined prioritisation, effective portfolio governance, and measurable value delivery.

Principle Accountabilities

• Strategic leadership & vision • Strategic global supply chain & optimisation • Global supply chain total value loss analysis • Strategic initiative portfolio identification & governance • Project oversight & executive decision support • Innovation & capability building • Stakeholder engagement • Team Leadership & development

Skills and Experience Required

• Strategic Thinking & Visionary Leadership • Advanced Analytical & Financial Modelling Skills • Stakeholder Management & Influencing at Executive Level • Innovation Scouting & Business Case Development • Strong Communication & Storytelling Skills • Comfort with Ambiguity and Complex Problem Solving • End-to-End Supply Chain Understanding • Awareness of State-of-the-Art Practices and Innovations in Supply Chain and Strategy • Curiosity and Out-of-the-Box Thinking – ability to challenge the status quo and explore unconventional solutions • Confidence and Resilience – comfortable engaging in difficult conversations and navigating challenges • Positive Mindset – fostering optimism and solution-oriented thinking • Executive Presence – ability to credibly represent the GSC Strategy function in front of the Executive Leadership Team and other senior forums

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at recruitment@impbrands.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.