At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and modernise a procurement team to support business growth.
- Company: Employee-owned business in the Mechanical Services sector with ambitious plans.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, employee ownership, and career progression.
- Other info: Dynamic role with direct exposure to senior leadership and long-term career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building a future-ready procurement function.
- Qualifications: Senior procurement experience and strong supplier negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.
Denton, Manchester (Office Based)
Employee Ownership Scheme
Progression Opportunity to Director Level
UK Staffing Group are recruiting for a Head of Procurement on behalf of a growing, employee-owned business within the Mechanical Services sector. This is not a traditional procurement role. Whilst you'll initially provide leadership and continuity within an established purchasing team, the long-term objective is to build, modernise and develop a procurement function capable of supporting the next phase of business growth.
Working closely with the Commercial Supply Chain Director, you'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, improve supplier relationships, strengthen reporting and create a procurement operation that is fit for the future. If you're looking for a role where you can genuinely make an impact rather than simply maintain the status quo, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.
What You'll Be Doing
- Initially Lead and support an established purchasing team
- Understand current purchasing processes, systems and supplier relationships
- Maintain continuity across international supply chains
- Manage supplier performance and commercial relationships
- Navigate duties, tariffs, quotas and regulatory requirements
- Identify quick wins to improve efficiency and reporting
Longer Term
- Develop and implement a strategic procurement roadmap
- Strengthen supplier partnerships across global markets
- Improve systems, reporting and procurement visibility
- Align procurement activities with wider commercial objectives
- Build a scalable procurement function to support future growth
- Coach and develop the wider purchasing team
- Position the business ahead of regulatory and market changes
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Senior procurement or purchasing experience
- Experience within a distribution, wholesale, manufacturing or product-led business
- Strong supplier negotiation skills
- Commercial awareness around margins, costs and profitability
- Experience managing international supply chains
- Advanced Excel and reporting capability
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
Highly Desirable
- Exposure to import duties, tariffs and quotas
- Understanding of CBAM or similar regulatory frameworks
- Experience sourcing products internationally
- Experience managing suppliers across Europe, Asia or Turkey
- Purchasing systems and ERP experience
The Type of Person Who Will Thrive Here
You're as comfortable rolling your sleeves up and helping the team as you are sitting in a leadership meeting discussing strategy. You enjoy improving processes, building relationships and challenging the way things have always been done. You bring structure and commercial thinking without the ego. Most importantly, you're excited by the opportunity to build something rather than simply inherit it.
What's On Offer
- £55,000 - £60,000 basic salary
- Bonus scheme up to 10%
- Employee ownership scheme
- Pension scheme
- Laptop and mobile phone
- Genuine progression opportunity
- Direct exposure to senior leadership
- Long-term career development
- Stable and growing business with ambitious plans
UK Staffing Group are acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
Head of Procurement in Manchester employer: UK Staffing Group Limited
Join a dynamic, employee-owned business in Denton, Manchester, where your leadership as Head of Procurement will not only influence strategy but also drive meaningful change within the procurement function. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to genuine progression opportunities, including potential advancement to director level, all while enjoying a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Benefit from a competitive salary, bonus scheme, and a pension plan, all within a stable and ambitious organisation committed to your professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Procurement in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the hunt for a Head of Procurement role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its procurement processes. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around building and modernising procurement functions. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but the one they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your leadership skills! Whether it’s through examples from your past roles or discussing your vision for the future of procurement, make sure you highlight how you can lead and inspire a team to achieve great results.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you stand out, and applying directly shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Procurement in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Procurement role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant procurement achievements to show us you're the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can make an impact. Be specific about your vision for modernising the procurement function.
Showcase Your Supplier Relationships:Since building strong supplier partnerships is key, share examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships in the past. We want to see your negotiation skills in action!
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 from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Staffing Group Limited
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your procurement knowledge, especially in areas like supplier negotiation and international supply chains. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how they relate to the role, as this will show that you understand the nuances of the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a purchasing team, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight your ability to coach and develop others, as well as how you've navigated challenges in leadership.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
This isn't just about maintaining the status quo; it's about building and modernising the procurement function. Think about how you can align procurement activities with broader commercial objectives and be ready to discuss your vision for the future of the department.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare some thoughtful questions that show your interest in the company's growth and your potential role in it. Inquire about their current procurement processes, challenges they face, and how they envision the future of the procurement function within the business.