Purchasing Manager, FMCG in London

A fast-scaling FMCG consumer goods business, operating across major retail and wholesale channels globally, is seeking a Purchasing Manager to take ownership of sourcing strategy, supplier performance and commercial delivery as it continues its growth trajectory. This is a senior, commercially focused purchasing role rather than a purely operational buying position. The individual will be expected to drive margin improvement, lead complex supplier negotiations at scale, and build a resilient, cost-effective and future-ready supply base suited to high-volume FMCG environments. The role requires someone who can operate at pace, take full ownership of outcomes, and act as a key commercial partner across product, sales and operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Management
  • Develop and implement a scalable sourcing strategy aligned to volume growth, margin improvement and speed to market.
  • Build, manage and optimise a diverse global supplier base suitable for high-volume retail and wholesale supply chains.
  • Lead complex tenders and strategic sourcing decisions end-to-end, ensuring commercial robustness and delivery capability.
  • Shift supplier relationships from transactional to long-term strategic partnerships focused on performance, cost and reliability.
  • Identify opportunities for supply chain simplification, consolidation and efficiency gains.
• Commercial Ownership & Margin Delivery
  • Own supplier commercial negotiations including pricing, cost structures, rebates and contractual terms.
  • Drive measurable margin improvement through proactive cost control and supplier challenge.
  • Provide clear visibility of cost drivers, risks and commercial opportunities to senior stakeholders.
  • Support budgeting, forecasting and pricing decisions with accurate and insight-led cost modelling.
  • Take full accountability for commercial performance across the relevant category or supply base.
• Tender, Bid & Project Leadership
  • Lead commercial input into large-scale tenders, bids and cross-functional business proposals.
  • Own sourcing decisions end-to-end rather than operating in a support capacity.
  • Partner with sales, product and operations teams to ensure proposals are commercially viable, competitive and deliverable.
  • Review commercial outcomes and refine sourcing and negotiation approaches to improve future performance.
• Supply Chain Insight & Risk Management
  • Monitor FMCG market dynamics, commodity pressures and global supply chain risks.
  • Anticipate disruption and implement contingency planning, including dual-sourcing strategies where required.
  • Identify new suppliers, materials and production innovations to enhance cost efficiency and resilience.
  • Reduce reliance on single-source suppliers or regions through proactive diversification.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management
  • Manage and develop a small purchasing team, setting clear expectations and driving accountability.
  • Operate as a hands-on leader with full ownership rather than a purely supervisory management style.
  • Act as a key commercial partner to product development, sales and operations teams.
  • Influence stakeholders at all levels with strong commercial rationale and clear communication.
• Responsible Sourcing & Continuous Improvement
  • Promote ethical, responsible and sustainable sourcing practices across the supplier base.
  • Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier management and negotiation strategy.
  • Encourage innovation that improves cost efficiency, scalability and environmental performance.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strong purchasing, procurement or sourcing experience within FMCG, consumer goods or high-volume retail/wholesale environments.
• Proven experience leading large-scale tenders, supplier negotiations or category ownership.
• A strong commercial mindset with demonstrable impact on margin, cost control and supplier performance.
• Confident negotiation skills with experience managing complex, global supplier relationships.
• A hands-on approach with full ownership of outcomes rather than reliance on close supervision.
• Experience managing or mentoring a small team.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence internally and externally.
• A proactive, ambitious and high-urgency working style suited to fast-paced environments.
• Strong analytical capability and attention to detail, with sound commercial judgement.

What will not be suitable:

• Candidates with a purely operational or process-driven procurement background.
• Individuals who support tenders rather than owning and leading them.
• Those who prefer structured, closely directed environments.
• Candidates lacking pace, urgency or comfort operating at scale.
• Retail buyers without strong FMCG, wholesale or high-volume commercial experience.

At I Love My Job, as a recruitment agency, we are committed to welcoming applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We actively work to reflect the diversity of our clients, candidates, and wider community, helping to build stronger, more inclusive workplaces. We believe people are at the heart of everything we do. Equality and inclusivity are central to our approach, and we champion opportunities where everyone feels valued, represented, and able to thrive.