Indirect Procurement Manager M/F/D in Middlesbrough

General information

Company / Establishment: A long-established Specialty chemicals producer with a Platinum Ecovadis rating based in the North East of England, supplying over 400 customers via 2 manufacturing sites with its own R&D facilities. Our 4 key businesses are: Personal Care, Proprietary Reduced Environmental Impact products, Solvent Recovery, Custom Manufacturing to serve sectors including Cosmetics, Oil & Gas, Homecare, Animal Nutrition, Lubricants.

What makes the difference?

• We are a top tier COMAH site where Health and Safety is at the core of how we operate, we pride ourselves on an excellent health and safety record and work hard to ensure the safety of all.
• Our people are our biggest asset and we have long been a champion of the Better Health at Work programme having gained ‘maintaining excellence' rating for many years. This also extends to a strong ethos of support and opportunity for progression of our staff.

Would you like to join an innovative group with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of excellence? The Seqens story began in 2003 in the Lyon, France area. Since then, the group has grown steadily to become a major global player in pharmaceutical solutions and specialty ingredients. We offer our customers contract manufacturing services and a broad portfolio of active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates. Today, Seqens employs nearly 2,700 people across 3 continents and 9 countries. With 15 production sites and 5 R&D centers, we support over 1,500 customers worldwide.

Reference: 2026-1814

Job Family / Sub-family: Purchasing - Local Purchasing

Contract type: Permanent

Position Context: We are seeking an Industrial Buyer OPEX & CAPEX who will also act as European Lead Buyer for Industrial Packaging. In this dual role, you will optimise costs and manage investments for industrial equipment and operations, while leading the procurement strategy for packaging across European sites. Your mission will be to ensure supply continuity, cost efficiency, and compliance with quality and sustainability standards.

Main tasks:

• OPEX (Operational Purchasing): Overview day-to-day purchasing of Maintenance, Spare parts, MRO, Waste Management, Logistics, consumables, services, and subcontracting related to production. Optimize operational costs through spend analysis, supplier negotiations, and process improvements. Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers, ensuring compliance with quality, deadlines, and cost targets. Collaborate with production, logistics, and quality teams to align procurement with operational needs.
• CAPEX (Capital Expenditure Purchasing): Lead procurement for capital investments, including equipment, machinery, and infrastructure, in line with the plant’s strategic plans. Manage tender processes: draft specifications, evaluate bids, and select suppliers for CAPEX projects. Monitor budgets and report on investment progress, ensuring alignment with financial objectives. Stay updated on technological advancements to drive innovation and performance in industrial operations.
• European Lead Buyer – Industrial Packaging: Define and implement the procurement strategy for industrial packaging across European sites, ensuring standardization, cost optimization, and supplier consolidation. Work with production, Quality and sustainability teams to select packaging solutions that meet technical, regulatory, and environmental requirements. Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with European suppliers to secure competitive pricing, quality, and supply reliability. Monitor trends in industrial packaging (e.g., sustainability, circular economy) and propose innovative solutions to reduce costs and environmental impact.
• Compliance & Continuous Improvement: Ensure all procurement activities comply with industry regulations (REACH, GMP, ISO) and internal policies (CSR, sustainability). Drive digital transformation and process optimization in procurement (ERP, e-procurement tools). Report to the corporate’s procurement department on his initiatives and the KPIs related to his work.

Required skills:

• Education & Experience: Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Minimum 10 years in industrial procurement, with at least 3 years in a Lead Buyer or Category Manager role, preferably in the chemical/pharmaceutical sectors. Proven experience in OPEX, CAPEX, and packaging procurement is required.
• Technical Skills: Strong negotiation and contract management skills. Proficiency in procurement tools (SAP, Oracle, Ariba) and financial analysis. Knowledge of industrial processes, packaging technologies, and sustainability standards. Fluent English; additional European languages (French) are a plus.
• Soft Skills: Leadership and ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Analytical mindset, results-driven, and problem-solving orientation. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for cross-cultural collaboration.

Job location: United Kingdom, England, Middlesbrough