Procurement Manager in Brighton

• Procurement Manager
• Location: Hailsham
• Full-time | Permanent
• Salary 50-60k per annum
• European Supply Chain / Procurement

A growing organisation is seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead sourcing activity across key categories and build a strong, resilient and commercially effective supply base.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring product availability, quality, cost efficiency and long-term supply stability.

You'll translate business requirements into clear sourcing priorities, develop supplier performance, and make balanced commercial decisions that support both current operations and future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
• Translate business and category needs into practical sourcing plans.
• Support supplier selection, tendering, negotiation and contracting.
• Assess total cost, quality, service, capacity, risk and sustainability in all sourcing decisions.
• Identify opportunities for consolidation, cost improvement and alternative supply.
• Manage supplier time-to-serve, progress chasing and expediting where required.
• Supplier Performance & Risk Management
• Set clear expectations for supplier quality, delivery, cost and responsiveness.
• Review performance regularly and drive corrective actions where needed.
• Identify supply risks early and maintain mitigation, contingency or dual‐sourcing plans.
• Build strong long-term supplier relationships while maintaining commercial challenge.
• Escalate supplier non‐conformance and risks through appropriate internal channels.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Product, Category Management, Finance and other teams to make balanced decisions.
• Present recommendations using clear facts, options, financial impact and risk.
• Take ownership of recurring or complex procurement problems.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with wider business priorities, not just local optimisation.
• Team Leadership & Capability
• Set clear objectives and standards for team members (where applicable).
• Coach colleagues to strengthen commercial judgement, supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Create opportunities for team development and broader experience.
• Lead by example through consistent decision-making, accountability and constructive challenge.
• Governance & Continuous Improvement
• Maintain accurate supplier, contract and sourcing records.
• Ensure procurement controls and delegated authority processes are followed.
• Use data to identify trends, recurring issues and improvement opportunities.
• Support standardisation of procurement tools, approval routes and supplier management practices across the region.

About You

You will be a commercially strong, confident Procurement Manager who takes ownership of decisions, acts ethically and holds suppliers to high standards.

You'll bring

• Strong procurement, sourcing or supplier‐management experience in manufacturing, distribution or similar environments.
• Demonstrable negotiation experience and commercial analysis capability.
• Ability to assess cost, risk, quality, service and operational implications holistically.
• Confidence using ERP systems, spend data and supplier reporting to inform decisions.
• People‐management experience (desirable).
• Relevant procurement qualification or professional development (desirable but not essential).
• What's on Offer
• Opportunity to shape sourcing strategy and supplier performance.
• A role with genuine influence across operations, quality, engineering and commercial teams.
• Scope to drive cost improvements, supply resilience and long-term value.
• A supportive environment focused on continuous improvement and professional growth.