Interim Procurement Manager in Manchester

Your new company

When a global supply chain depends on timely decisions, accurate forecasting and strong supplier relationships, procurement becomes one of the most commercially important functions in the business. This Interim Procurement Manager role offers the chance to take ownership of a high-value international sourcing operation that supports manufacturing, distribution and sales activity across multiple markets. Based in Greater Manchester, you'll join a long-established manufacturer with a global footprint and responsibility for products sourced from Asia and supplied worldwide. Working directly with senior decision makers, you'll play a central role in maintaining operational continuity while helping to strengthen visibility, reporting and control across the wider procurement function.

Your new role

You'll be trusted to lead a critical procurement operation during a period of leadership absence, managing international sourcing activity, supplier relationships, import procurement and inbound logistics across a complex global supply chain. Success in the role is measured by continuity, visibility and control. Keeping products moving, managing risk and maintaining confidence across the business will sit at the heart of your remit. Alongside leading a small procurement team, you'll work closely with finance, treasury, quality, technical and operational stakeholders to coordinate purchasing commitments, production schedules, shipments and inventory in transit. Once stability is established, you'll have the opportunity to identify practical improvements that strengthen reporting, reduce process risk and create greater resilience across the procurement operation. If you enjoy stepping into complex environments, bringing structure to critical processes and making a visible impact quickly, this is the type of assignment where your experience will be highly valued.

What you'll need to succeed

You'll most likely have built your career within manufacturing, international sourcing, importing, distribution or a comparable global supply chain environment. You'll understand the realities of managing long lead times, high-value purchasing commitments, containerised imports and supplier relationships across different countries and time zones. You'll be comfortable taking ownership of established procurement operations, working closely with suppliers, freight forwarders and internal stakeholders to maintain supply continuity and resolve issues before they become problems. Strong commercial judgement, advanced Excel capability and the ability to communicate risk, purchasing commitments and operational performance clearly to senior stakeholders will be important. Just as importantly, you'll bring the leadership style needed to guide a small team, create clarity, and keep momentum across multiple priorities. This role will suit a procurement professional who is hands-on, pragmatic and confident making decisions in a business where operational delivery matters.

What you'll get in return

You'll join a business where procurement has a direct impact on commercial performance and where your recommendations can help shape improvements to reporting, controls and ways of working. The role offers a negotiable day rate, inside IR35, and provides the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership while influencing a globally connected supply chain. This is a full-time, office-based position in Greater Manchester with an immediate requirement. For an experienced Interim Procurement Manager seeking a role that combines international sourcing, team leadership, supply chain management and process improvement, it represents an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution from the outset.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.