Procurement Manager

Procurement Manager - Fresh Produce Kent | Competitive salary + benefits Love the buying side of fresh produce? Enjoy negotiating with growers, building strong supplier relationships and making sure the right product is sourced at the right time and price? If you're looking for a role where you can take ownership of procurement, influence buying decisions and really make a difference commercially, this could be worth a look. We're looking for a Procurement Manager to join a growing fresh produce business, taking responsibility for sourcing and supplier relationships across a range of products. You'll be working closely with growers and suppliers, both in the UK and internationally, making sure the business has the right supply in place while getting the best possible commercial outcomes. What's in it for you? A competitive salary, dependent on experience. The opportunity to take ownership of procurement across key fresh produce categories. Plenty of variety, with a mix of buying, supplier management and commercial negotiation. The chance to build relationships with growers and suppliers across international markets. Real influence over sourcing decisions, pricing and supplier strategy. Involvement in new product opportunities, seasonal planning and category development. Work closely with teams across commercial, technical, planning and operations. The opportunity to make a genuine impact on product quality, availability and profitability. What you'll be doing (and why you'll enjoy it) You'll be at the heart of the supply side of the business, making sure the right product is coming in, at the right time, quality and price. You'll have plenty of involvement with suppliers and growers, as well as working closely with the wider team to keep everything moving. Day to day, you'll be: Managing relationships with existing growers and suppliers, while looking for opportunities to develop new ones. Sourcing fresh produce from the right suppliers and markets, balancing quality, availability and cost. Negotiating pricing, volumes and supply agreements to get the best commercial outcome. Keeping on top of market conditions, seasonal changes and crop availability to make informed buying decisions. Planning ahead for seasonal programmes and making sure supply is in place to meet customer demand. Monitoring supplier performance, quality, service levels and pricing. Dealing with the challenges that come with fresh produce, from availability issues and changing market prices to quality concerns. Working closely with the commercial team to understand customer requirements and make sure procurement decisions support the wider business. Looking at new growers, growing regions and sourcing opportunities to strengthen the supply base. Keeping an eye on margins and looking for ways to improve buying performance. Working with technical and quality teams to make sure suppliers meet the required standards. Getting involved in new product opportunities, varieties and category development. Fresh produce is never completely predictable, so you'll need to enjoy thinking on your feet, building relationships and making decisions when things change. It's a hands-on role where being commercially switched on and knowing your product will really count. Where you'll be doing it You'll be joining an established and growing fresh produce business with a strong customer base and an international network of growers and suppliers. This is an excellent opportunity to join a business where you can build supplier relationships, bring new ideas to the table and have a real influence over how and where products are sourced. What you'll need Experience in Procurement, Buying or Sourcing within fresh produce, food or FMCG. Experience managing supplier and grower relationships. A good understanding of fresh produce markets, seasonality and availability. Confidence negotiating pricing, volumes and supply agreements. A strong commercial understanding, particularly around costs, margins and buying decisions. Good communication and relationship-building skills. The ability to manage changing priorities and make decisions in a fast-paced environment. Someone organised, proactive and comfortable getting involved in the detail. Experience sourcing internationally, working directly with growers or managing multiple fresh produce categories would be a real advantage. We're not necessarily looking for someone who ticks every single box. More importantly, we want someone who understands the fresh produce industry, enjoys the challenge of buying and can build relationships that deliver for the business. What next? Interested in hearing more? Even if you're not actively looking, it's worth having a confidential chat to find out what this could offer. Give Georgie a call on 01780 480530 , email , or drop me a message on LinkedIn. No up-to-date CV? Don't let that put you off. Send over what you have and we can take it from there. TPBN1_UKTJ