Purchasing Manager, FMCG in Westminster

A fast‐scaling FMCG consumer goods business operating across major retail and wholesale channels globally is seeking a Purchasing Manager to own sourcing strategy, supplier performance, and commercial delivery. This senior, commercially focused role requires driving margin improvement, leading complex supplier negotiations at scale, and building a resilient, cost‐effective, future‐ready supply base for high‐volume FMCG environments. The role demands operating at pace, full ownership, and acting as a key commercial partner across product, sales and operations.

Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Management

• Develop and implement a scalable sourcing strategy aligned to volume growth, margin improvement, and speed to market.
• Build, manage, and optimise a diverse global supplier base suitable for high‐volume retail and wholesale supply chains.
• Lead complex tenders and strategic sourcing decisions end‐to‐end, ensuring commercial robustness and delivery capability.
• Shift supplier relationships from transactional to long‐term strategic partnerships focused on performance, cost, and reliability.
• Identify opportunities for supply chain simplification, consolidation, and efficiency gains.

Commercial Ownership & Margin Delivery

• Own supplier commercial negotiations including pricing, cost structures, rebates, and contractual terms.
• Drive measurable margin improvement through proactive cost control and supplier challenge.
• Provide clear visibility of cost drivers, risks, and commercial opportunities to senior stakeholders.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and pricing decisions with accurate and insight‐led cost modelling.
• Take full accountability for commercial performance across the relevant category or supply base.

Tender, Bid & Project Leadership

• Lead commercial input into large‐scale tenders, bids, and cross‐functional business proposals.
• Own sourcing decisions end‐to‐end rather than operating in a support capacity.
• Partner with sales, product, and operations teams to ensure proposals are commercially viable, competitive, and deliverable.
• Review commercial outcomes and refine sourcing and negotiation approaches to improve future performance.

Supply Chain Insight & Risk Management

• Monitor FMCG market dynamics, commodity pressures, and global supply chain risks.
• Anticipate disruption and implement contingency planning, including dual‐sourcing strategies where required.
• Identify new suppliers, materials, and production innovations to enhance cost efficiency and resilience.
• Reduce reliance on single‐source suppliers or regions through proactive diversification.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Manage and develop a small purchasing team, setting clear expectations and driving accountability.
• Operate as a hands‐on leader with full ownership rather than a purely supervisory management style.
• Act as a key commercial partner to product development, sales, and operations teams.
• Influence stakeholders at all levels with strong commercial rationale and clear communication.

Responsible Sourcing & Continuous Improvement

• Promote ethical, responsible, and sustainable sourcing practices across the supplier base.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier management, and negotiation strategy.
• Encourage innovation that improves cost efficiency, scalability, and environmental performance.

Qualifications

• Strong purchasing, procurement, or sourcing experience within FMCG, consumer goods, or high‐volume retail/wholesale environments.
• Proven experience leading large‐scale tenders, supplier negotiations, or category ownership.
• A strong commercial mindset with demonstrable impact on margin, cost control, and supplier performance.
• Confident negotiation skills with experience managing complex, global supplier relationships.
• A hands‐on approach with full ownership of outcomes rather than reliance on close supervision.
• Experience managing or mentoring a small team.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence internally and externally.
• A proactive, ambitious, and high‐urgency working style suited to fast‐paced environments.
• Strong analytical capability and attention to detail, with sound commercial judgement.

What Will Not Be Suitable

• Candidates with a purely operational or process‐driven procurement background.
• Individuals who support tenders rather than owning and leading them.
• Those who prefer structured, closely directed environments.
• Candidates lacking pace, urgency or comfort operating at scale.
• Retail buyers without strong FMCG, wholesale or high‐volume commercial experience.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status.