Procurement Manager

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Company Overview:

We are a dynamic and innovative retail, wholesale and foodservice business, committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and staying at the forefront of industry trends. A company that now owns 247 SPAR convenience stores and employs more than 5,000 people, with a turnover of £1.3 billion.

About Us:

AF Blakemore is one of the largest and most forward-thinking family-owned businesses in the UK. With a passion for food, the company operates across the UK food sector at retail and wholesale delivering exceptional products and experiences to our customers. With a rich history spanning over 100 years, we take pride in our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

We are looking for a dynamic and strategic Procurement Manager to join our team. You will be responsible for spend circa £11mil, covering approximately 11 sub commodity areas and report to our Head of Procurement - Indirect.

Job Details:

• Managing & supporting procurement of all goods and services within Facilities Maintenance and Capex.
• Driving improvement in all-round supply chain performance through liaison and negotiation with key stakeholders including suppliers, colleagues and customers.
• Delivery of benefits including cost avoidance, cost savings and process improvement.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders understanding requirements and gaining buy-in.
• Manage and develop targeted supplier relationships that deliver value across quality, service, innovation cost and support our environmental targets.
• Maintaining supplier relationships and contract management techniques to support our profitability by obtaining great value goods and services in line with business goals.
• Supporting internal stakeholders with supplier challenges.
• Remain current with market trends through relationships with suppliers.
• Risk Management - identifying, mitigating & monitoring risk.
• Monitor safety stock levels where required and establish order policies to balance inventory availability with low levels of investment.
• Ensuring single source supply where possible across all divisions, increasing leverage and reducing cost across the supply base.
• Supporting supplier tenders and commercials negotiations.
• Manage end to end procurement initiatives, supporting strategic and robust solutions to drive commercial benefit.

Key Responsibilities:

• Liaise with key company stakeholders to determine their product and service needs.
• Monitor business trends and product/service availability to pay the best price for company goods and services without sacrificing quality or delivery times.
• Working to limit non-contractual spend through the stakeholder base, driving corrective action where needed.
• Nurture relationships with suppliers to negotiate the best prices for company & ensure service performance.
• Identifies and researches potential new suppliers.
• Robust supplier contractual management.
• Rate Card control and support.
• Supplier procurement sustainability profiling.
• Regular supplier meetings to review performance.
• Managing ongoing projects to reduce overall procurement costs and improve supplier flexibility, delivery and performance.
• Maintain cost reduction programs on all purchasing activity.
• Positively influence policy thinking and drive continuous improvement across the category.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and inspire confidence in others around you when faced with uncertainty and change.
• Research new products and services to meet company's goals.
• Detailed analysis of current and potential suppliers & processes, developing strategic alliances with suppliers to maintain competitive pricing.
• Compile and analyse trends in prices and supply across the divisions.
• Divisional support for cost reduction by process improvement.
• Maintain KPIs to demonstrate effectiveness of implemented processes and potential opportunities.
• Monthly reporting of allocated supplier performance.
• Departmental reporting to head of department to ensure activities are in line with the overall business/department strategy.
• Working in conjunction with other Category controllers within the team/ across the business to maximise ROI and cost / environmental improvement opportunity.
• Monitor business compliance of approved supplier listing for targeted area.
• Monitor & report approved supplier performance.
• Management & maintenance of approved supplier listing for targeted commodity areas.
• Supporting quotation, requests for tender proposals and co-ordination.
• Assist with the administrative process throughout the duration of the preparation of all documentation.
• Manage Implementation of supply and process change.
• Manage ongoing relations with suppliers.
• Compliance with health and safety responsibilities as defined at Level 4 of the company Health and Safety Policy arrangements.
• Providing analytical data and support where required.
• Frequent communication and presentation of targeted commodity supplier performance and review.

What's in it for you?:

• You will play a vital role in our business and have a huge impact on our success so not only will you receive excellent training, support and continued development but we will also offer a competitive salary and superb benefits package.
• 34 days holiday per year including public holidays (Increasing after 3, 5 and 10 years).
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Develop your skills and capability in a highly supportive and multi-diverse culture.
• Outstanding Training & Development opportunities.
• Gain hands-on experience in a high volume, fast paced environment.
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity pay packages.
• Flexible working hours opportunity.
• Excellent additional benefits package including: Early access to your pay through 'EarlyPay', 12.5% Staff discount on fresh items & 10% Staff Discount on ambient products in our SPAR stores (ex. Alcohol & Cigarettes), Wellbeing support - access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice, NEST pension scheme, Extra Holiday - Purchase Scheme, Long Service Awards.