Procurement Specialist in Ellesmere Port

We are hiring for a Procurement Specialist to join our Supply Chain team. This role is responsible for leading the commercial procurement agenda for the site and/or assigned categories (e.g. raw materials, packaging, indirect). You will own sourcing strategy, contract negotiation, cost management, and supplier performance improvement to ensure the business benefits from secure supply, competitive cost, and high-quality service.

Working closely with Planning, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain, you will ensure supplier capabilities, commercial terms, and contracts support stable production plans and operational efficiency. You will also take ownership of supplier contract governance within the ERP system, ensuring all commercial agreements are accurately reflected, compliant, and effectively managed to support business performance and reduce risk.

Role Purpose

To deliver value, resilience, and service performance by owning end-to-end sourcing, negotiation, and contracting activities, while driving supplier performance improvement. You will ensure the business is supported by capable, compliant suppliers, robust commercial agreements, and accurate ERP contract records aligned to safety, quality, and operational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing, tendering, and negotiations for assigned categories to secure competitive total cost and supply continuity.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage supplier contracts, ensuring clear commercial terms aligned to business needs.
• Create and maintain accurate supplier contract records within the ERP system, including pricing, validity, and supply parameters.
• Ensure strong procurement governance, compliance, and audit-ready processes across sourcing and contracting activity.
• Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, scorecards, and continuous improvement plans.
• Drive supplier performance improvements across OTIF, quality, responsiveness, and issue resolution.
• Partner with Quality teams on audits, non-conformance management, and supplier improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Planning teams to align supplier capability (lead times, MOQ, constraints) with production requirements.
• Manage supplier cost changes, ensuring strong governance, validation, and accurate ERP implementation.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving and value-creation opportunities (e.g., cost avoidance, standardisation, optimisation).
• Proactively manage supply risks, including contingency planning and dual sourcing strategies.
• Support operational continuity by resolving supplier issues and leading recovery actions during disruptions.
• Provide insights and reporting on supplier performance, risks, and value delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier engagement, and data quality.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, sourcing, negotiation, and contract management within a manufacturing or supply chain environment.
• Proven ability to manage supplier relationships and drive measurable performance improvements.
• Good working knowledge of ERP systems and procurement data management.
• Strong commercial mindset with understanding of total cost of ownership and risk management.
• Ability to analyse data, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Confident communicator who can influence stakeholders and challenge suppliers constructively.
• High attention to detail with a structured, governance-driven approach.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work cross-functionally across operations, planning, and quality.
• Resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) or equivalent procurement training is desirable.
• Experience in FMCG or food manufacturing and knowledge of supplier quality and audit standards would be advantageous.

Job Environment & Conditions

This role operates in a food manufacturing environment with regular time on the factory floor and exposure to noise, dust (grain), moving machinery, temperature variation, and manual handling activities. Flexibility is required to support shift teams, critical incidents, shutdowns, trials, and business needs.

Right to Work

Right to work in the UK: In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. We have assessed this role and do not consider that we would be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route as the role does not meet the relevant Home Office criteria; the successful candidate therefore must be able to demonstrate their own right to work during the recruitment process without sponsorship.

Equal Opportunities

We work together as one team. Everyone is welcome here, and we treat each other with fairness, respect, and equality.