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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic purchasing team and manage procurement for manufacturing materials.
- Company: Established manufacturing business in Hertford with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Salary up to £45,000 plus excellent employee benefits and career progression.
- Other info: Opportunity for long-term career growth in a collaborative setting.
- Why this job: Shape the purchasing function and make a real impact in a stable environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing within manufacturing and strong negotiation skills.
An established manufacturing business in Hertford is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead its procurement function and oversee a small, high-performing team. This is a key role for someone with strong knowledge of raw materials, engineering supply chains, and the ability to deliver exceptional service to key customers.
You will take ownership of purchasing strategy, supplier performance, and material availability, ensuring the business maintains a reliable, cost-effective supply chain that supports production and customer commitments.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and develop a small purchasing team, ensuring high performance and effective workload management.
- Manage the procurement of raw materials, engineered components, and manufacturing consumables, ensuring best value and supplier reliability.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, terms, and long-term agreements.
- Ensure material availability aligns with production schedules and customer delivery expectations.
- Oversee supplier performance, quality, and delivery accuracy, implementing corrective actions where required.
- Work closely with production, engineering, and planning teams to support operational efficiency.
- Maintain accurate purchasing data, lead times, and cost information within the ERP system.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.
- Act as a key point of contact for major customers, ensuring they receive excellent levels of service and communication.
- Contribute to strategic procurement planning and cost-reduction initiatives.
You will be an experienced Purchasing Manager with a strong understanding of manufacturing or engineering environments, confident in leading a team and managing a diverse supplier base. You will bring a proactive, commercially focused approach and the ability to influence both suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Essential Skills & Experience- Proven experience as a Purchasing Manager within manufacturing, engineering, or industrial production.
- Strong knowledge of raw materials used in manufacturing (e.g., metals, plastics, components).
- Experience leading or mentoring a small team.
- Excellent supplier negotiation and relationship-management skills.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production requirements.
- Ability to deliver high levels of service to key customers and internal teams.
- Good working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
- Ideally CIPS qualified or working towards it.
- Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills.
- Salary up to £45,000
- Excellent employee benefits package
- Opportunity to shape and develop the purchasing function
- Stable, supportive manufacturing environment
- Long-term career progression potential
Purchasing Manager in Hertford employer: ProARecruitment
Contact Detail:
ProARecruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Manager in Hertford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local manufacturing events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its supply chain processes. Show them you understand their needs and how your experience as a Purchasing Manager can help them achieve their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Purchasing Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate with suppliers. Role-play scenarios with a friend to build confidence before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Manager in Hertford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Purchasing Manager role. Highlight your experience in procurement, supplier management, and any relevant achievements that showcase your skills in manufacturing or engineering environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led teams, managed supplier relationships, and contributed to cost-reduction initiatives in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your strong negotiation skills and your ability to deliver exceptional service. Mention any experience with ERP/MRP systems and how you’ve used data to drive purchasing decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at ProARecruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of raw materials and engineering supply chains. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your understanding of these areas.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a small team, prepare to talk about your leadership style. Think of instances where you've successfully managed a team or mentored someone, and be ready to share how you handle workload management and performance.
✨Supplier Relationships Matter
Be prepared to discuss how you've built and maintained strong supplier relationships in the past. Highlight any successful negotiations you've conducted and how those have benefited your previous employers.
✨Data is Key
Familiarise yourself with ERP/MRP systems and be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform purchasing decisions. Bring examples of how you've maintained accurate purchasing data and how it has impacted your team's efficiency.