At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement and costing functions, ensuring strategic cost control and supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Black Label Creations, a fast-growing private label supplier of nutritional supplements.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to make an impact in the industry.
- Other info: Office-based role in Frimley with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of nutritional products while driving efficiency and quality.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in procurement, strong analytical skills, and leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Black Label Creations is a rapidly growing private label supplier of finished nutritional supplements. We partner with brands to deliver premium products from concept through launch, offering finished units across a wide variety of nutritional products.
As part of our growth, we are seeking a Procurement & Costing Manager to lead and elevate our procurement and costing functions. This is a hands-on leadership role, overseeing the Procurement team and taking responsibility for strategic cost control, supplier relationships, budgeting, stock management and supplier contracts.
Key Responsibilities
- Review and approve all product costings and supplier quotes prepared by the procurement team, ensuring accuracy, compliance with specifications, and alignment with commercial targets.
- Perform demand planning and forecasting to anticipate material needs and cost trends, to avoid stockouts or overstock, and to protect margins.
- Monitor commodity and market price trends to anticipate cost risks or opportunities.
Strategic Procurement & Supplier Management
- Develop and execute procurement strategies for raw ingredients (especially dry powders), packaging, components, and any other materials or services needed across the product life cycle.
- Manage and build strong, long-term relationships with suppliers; evaluate new suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, cost-competitiveness, and alignment with BLC’s values (e.g. regulatory compliance, sustainability).
- Lead negotiation of supplier contracts, terms, and pricing to deliver best possible cost, quality, lead time and payment terms.
- Oversee import/export logistics and shipping terms for materials and finished goods. Ensure best value in freight and shipping, customs, duties, and related costs.
Operations & Process Improvement
- Manage & mentor the procurement team, setting performance targets (cost saving, supplier performance, lead times etc.).
- Implement, review and improve procurement and costing processes: purchase order issuance, invoice reconciliation, alignment with budgeting, traceability of costs.
- Track and manage stock, wastage, quality issues; put in place measures to minimise waste or cost leakage.
- Ensure procurement and costing systems are leveraged fully; suggest and implement enhancements or automation where possible.
Reporting, Budgeting & Stakeholder Engagement
- Produce regular reports for senior management on procurement spend, cost savings, forecasting vs actuals.
- Align procurement spend and costing with company budgets and financial goals.
- Act as a strategic partner with cross-functional teams: Supply Chain, NPD, Technical, Quality, etc. Contribute commercial insight to product decisions (e.g. formulation, packaging design) to ensure cost-effective choices.
About You: Skills & Experience
- Proven experience (6+ years) in procurement or buying roles, ideally in the food, food supplements, nutraceuticals, or related FMCG industries.
- Experience in checking, validating, and approving cost models to ensure accuracy and consistency across multiple product lines.
- Confidence in providing final authorisation of costs and being accountable for commercial accuracy.
- Familiarity with import/export logistics, duties, compliance.
- Experience managing demand forecasting, inventory planning, reduction of waste or short-dated stock.
- Strong analytical skills; adept at working with numbers, Excel, data analysis; comfortable with financial modelling.
- Leadership experience, able to mentor, manage, and develop more junior procurement staff.
- Excellent communication skills; able to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders.
- Highly organised; good multi-tasker; able to manage competing priorities under pressure.
- Strong IT skills; experience with ERP/procurement software; ideally also comfortable with reporting tools and dashboards.
- Outstanding attention to detail, but also able to see strategic, long-term opportunities.
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related discipline.
- Continuous professional development, especially related to procurement, cost engineering, supply chain risk management.
Job Details
- Location: Frimley, England (office based)
- Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
- Employment type: Full-time
- Job function: Finance
- Industries: Food and Beverage Services
If this sounds like you and you’re excited to help Black Label Creations scale efficiently while maintaining high product quality and commercial success, we’d love to hear from you.
Procurement & Costing Manager in Frimley employer: Black Label Creations
At Black Label Creations, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and innovative employer in the nutritional supplements industry. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth, offering employees opportunities to lead impactful projects while developing their skills in procurement and cost management. Located in Frimley, our office environment is designed to support teamwork and creativity, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful contribution to a rapidly growing company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement & Costing Manager in Frimley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Procurement & Costing Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Black Label Creations thoroughly. Understand their products, values, and market position. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Procurement & Costing Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate contracts and supplier terms. Role-play with a friend or mentor to build your confidence before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Black Label Creations. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement & Costing Manager in Frimley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Procurement & Costing Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement, cost control, and supplier management. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention any specific achievements that demonstrate your expertise.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis and forecasting, make sure to highlight your analytical skills in your application. Share examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve processes in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Black Label Creations
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Procurement & Costing Manager, you'll need to be comfortable with numbers. Brush up on your financial modelling skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data analysis in past roles. Prepare examples of how you've managed budgets or reduced costs.
✨Supplier Relationships Matter
Be prepared to talk about your experience in building and maintaining supplier relationships. Think of specific instances where you negotiated contracts or improved supplier performance. This will show that you understand the importance of collaboration in procurement.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves managing a team, highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've mentored junior staff or set performance targets. This will demonstrate your ability to lead and develop a successful procurement team.
✨Stay Ahead of Market Trends
Research current trends in the nutritional supplements market, especially regarding raw ingredients and packaging. Be ready to discuss how you've anticipated cost risks or opportunities in the past. This shows that you're proactive and strategic in your approach.
