At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial transformation and manage strategic sourcing across 150+ dealerships.
- Company: Top automotive retailer in the UK with a focus on people and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, company car, and extensive health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth and a commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact in a high-profile role with direct exposure to senior leadership.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and experience across multiple sites.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are one of the top three automotive retailers in the UK, proudly representing 32 manufacturer brands, selling a huge range of new and used vehicles from over 150 dealerships across the UK and Ireland. We believe our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to recognising the valuable contribution each person makes. That’s why we continue to invest in a leading rewards and benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing, and life outside of work.
This is a newly created role at the heart of our commercial transformation. We are implementing a group-wide spend control and procure-to-pay platform across all 150+ sites, and this role is central to making it land well, ensuring the right suppliers, commercial terms, and category strategies are in place to realise significant savings and drive lasting procurement discipline across the network.
The role has two clear phases. In the near term, you will focus on preparing our supply base for go-live: rationalising suppliers, developing category strategies, and leading commercial negotiations with key partners. Once live, you will step into a permanent BAU remit as our group Category Manager, owning strategic sourcing and supplier performance across our key spend categories. It is a broad and high-profile role, with direct exposure to the CFO and senior operational leadership across the group. If you are an experienced procurement professional looking for a role where you can make a tangible commercial difference at scale, this is it.
What You'll Do - Phase 1: Platform Deployment
- Analyse group-wide spend data to identify trends, leakage, consolidation opportunities, and quick wins.
- Categorise and tier suppliers to support supplier enablement across the platform.
- Identify and prioritise suppliers for rationalisation and consolidation.
- Work with operations to understand site-level demand and flag legacy or duplicate supplier relationships.
- Develop high-level category strategies across key spend areas ahead of go-live.
- Identify and agree preferred suppliers; propose appropriate buying channels for each category.
- Lead commercial negotiations with priority suppliers to secure improved terms, pricing, and rebate structures.
- Agree heads of terms with suppliers and work closely with our Commercial Contracts Manager to progress formal contract execution.
- Communicate category proposals and buying channel recommendations to operational stakeholders.
- Work with dealership general managers, service managers, and parts managers to validate requirements and build buy-in.
- Support the change programme by helping operational leaders understand procurement policy and preferred supplier rationale.
What You'll Do - Phase 2: BAU Category Management
- Develop and implement category strategies across key spend areas, including aftersales (parts, tyres, lubricants), facilities management, marketing and digital services, and fleet and vehicle logistics.
- Conduct market analysis, supplier benchmarking, and industry trend assessments.
- Define category objectives, KPIs, and risk management plans.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings, rebates, and value-added services.
- Standardise products and services across dealership sites where appropriate.
- Collaborate with operations to forecast demand and align procurement strategy.
- Lead regular category reviews (monthly/quarterly) across the dealership network.
- Track and report KPIs including cost savings, rebate income, supplier service levels, and spend compliance.
- Analyse spend data to identify ongoing leakage, consolidation opportunities, and performance gaps.
- Present category insights and recommendations to the CFO and VP Corporate Services.
- Continuously refine strategies based on operational feedback and market conditions.
- Lead sourcing activity for dealership goods and services; run tenders (RFPs/RFQs) as required.
- Negotiate commercial terms including pricing, discounts, and rebate structures.
- Establish framework agreements and preferred supplier lists across the network.
- Drive spend compliance against preferred suppliers and minimise off-contract purchasing.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key suppliers across priority categories.
- Monitor supplier performance against commercial commitments — pricing, rebates, availability, service levels — and drive improvements where needed.
- Manage supply continuity risk for critical categories; maintain visibility of alternatives.
- Collaborate with suppliers to improve margins and enhance the Lookers customer offering.
- Work with general managers, service managers, and parts managers across 150+ sites to understand local requirements.
- Influence buying behaviours and promote use of the procurement platform and preferred suppliers.
- Provide guidance on cost control and commercial best practice.
- Balance central procurement strategy with appropriate local flexibility.
- Support demand management and specification optimisation across the network.
What We're Looking For!
Essential
- 5+ years in strategic procurement or category management.
- Proven track record of delivering cost savings through sourcing and supplier negotiation.
- Experience managing procurement across multiple sites or entities.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills.
- Ability to engage and influence operational stakeholders at all levels.
- Comfortable working with spend data to identify and size opportunities.
- Able to operate in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
Desirable
- Experience in automotive retail, dealership networks, or aftersales procurement.
- Familiarity with P2P or e-procurement platforms.
- Understanding of buying channel design and supplier enablement.
- CIPS qualified or working towards qualification.
Core Benefits:
- Competitive salaries with structured pay scales and progression as you grow within the business.
- Generous annual leave that increases with your length of service.
- Enhanced family leave, including 6 months’ full pay for maternity and adoption leave, and 2 weeks’ full pay for paternity leave.
- Access to Techscheme for discounted technology purchases with flexible payments.
- Eyecare vouchers to help cover vision care needs.
- Smart Health – 24/7 access to GP services to support your mental and physical wellbeing.
- Dental insurance for everyday dental care and unexpected treatments.
- Optional critical illness cover for peace of mind during life's most challenging moments.
- MyView PayNow – access a portion of your pay as you earn, with features to stream, save, and track your money through a user-friendly app.
- Free will writing services to help plan for the future.
- Flexible life assurance options and partner life assurance for added protection.
- Discounted gym memberships to support an active lifestyle.
- Travel insurance to help you explore with confidence.
- Access to home and technology vouchers bYond card and a wide range of exclusive retail and lifestyle discounts.
We strongly believe in nurturing and providing our people with specific manufacturer brand and management training to enhance career development opportunities. We have a great bunch of people, and we like to celebrate and encourage success at all levels. Lookers and Charles Hurst are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from discrimination, is inclusive, and empowers our people to bring their whole self to work and reach their full potential.
If your application is successful, we will conduct relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include verifying your recent employment, address, credit history and a standard criminal record check. For roles that require you to drive, a driving licence check will also be carried out. Please note, all offers of employment are made subject to a 6 month probation period commencing from your start date. We take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and are committed to upholding and respecting your privacy rights. Information about how we will process your data including the types of data we collect, the purposes for which we use it, who we may share it with and how long we keep it are set out in our privacy notice. It also includes information about your individual privacy rights. Please make sure you read our Privacy Notice so that you understand how we may collect and use your data.
Commercial Manager employer: Lookers
As one of the UK's leading automotive retailers, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where our employees are valued as our greatest asset. With a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and ample opportunities for professional growth, including manufacturer brand training, we empower our team to thrive both personally and professionally. Our hybrid working model, combined with the chance to engage with senior leadership and make a significant impact across our extensive dealership network, makes this an exceptional opportunity for any procurement professional looking to drive meaningful change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Lookers.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Lookers:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Lookers. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Lookers.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lookers
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Lookers!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Lookers. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Lookers's culture.
