Purchasing Director Designate

Our client is an international chemical raw materials manufacturer operating from multiple sites. To support their vision and long-term strategy, the company is seeking to appoint an experienced purchasing leader with the aptitude to modernise the procurement function and ensure it keeps pace with increasingly dynamic market challenges. Experience of chemical raw materials or similar sector such as food ingredients is essential.

Overview of role:

A highly driven, motivated individual with extensive previous procurement and contract management experience. The ideal candidate will be CIPS qualified or hold a similar qualification. Develop, lead and execute strategic purchasing strategies in line with KST objectives. Must be highly skilled in negotiation and networking. Working experience of vendor management software with the ability to gather and analyse data and to work with figures. Solid judgement along with decision making skills and strong leadership capabilities. Subject to KPIs being achieved, the role will be made director after the first 6 months.

Key Accountabilities:

• Introduce an innovative and proactive approach to identifying new suppliers and products
• Provide a strong knowledge of demand planning and forecasting
• Optimise stock levels without disrupting production
• Create and continually develop a purchasing strategy
• Manage and develop strategic supplier relationships nationally and internationally
• Lead the purchasing team by setting a clear direction and setting objectives
• Proactively reduce or mitigate purchasing costs, whilst maintaining the best possible quality
• Oversee the management of the sourcing and purchasing activities for all externally sourced raw materials, consumables, and equipment
• Oversee supply chain management
• Work closely with the Directors to meet key strategic targets
• Improve and develop the purchasing department standing in the organisation, cultivating internal stakeholder relationships
• Review payment terms to ensure the best outcome has been agreed in line with commercial targets
• Consolidate purchases to achieve maximum economic benefit
• Any reasonable additional duties as requested by the directors
• Provide purchasing leadership and guidance to the business through a period of high growth around the group in varying sizes of organisation
• Implement a purchasing dashboard of KPI’s that can be used to monitor performance around the group

Role & Responsibilities:

• Manage the team within the Purchasing department.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure clear requirements are documented along with relevant business case.
• Forecast price and market trends to identify changes of balance in buyer-supplier relationships.
• Perform cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking.
• Supplier and contract management, manage and mitigate all risks associated with Purchasing.
• Seek to achieve best practice at all times within the Purchasing and buying remit.

Person Profile:

• Formal qualification in purchasing, CIPS qualified or equivalent business qualification
• Extensive experience of purchasing speciality chemical raw materials is essential. Candidates with a related batch production environment such as food ingredients will also be considered
• Strong procurement and contract management knowledge and experience
• Proven track record in managing a multi-million pound spend
• Be able to demonstrate strong Project Management experience/skills both in raw materials and indirect spend
• Possess a hands-on can-do attitude, excellent communication skills and an ability to organise, plan and prioritise
• Excellent negotiation skills
• A driven and motivated individual with strong analytical mindset

For UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

To apply please contact Conrad Taylor E: conrad.taylor@listgrove.com; T: 0044 (0) 1789 207070

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