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- Tasks: Lead a team in strategic and hands-on procurement for a major manufacturing business.
- Company: Join a leading international manufacturing group with a dynamic work culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to drive impactful change.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in procurement while managing an ÂŁ18 million spend.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing or procurement within manufacturing, with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to enhance systems and processes in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
We are partnering with a leading manufacturing business within a low volume manufacturing environment, part of a major international group, to recruit an experienced Purchasing Manager. This is a high-impact role combining both strategic and handsâon procurement, with responsibility for leading a team of four buyers and managing an annual spend of approximately ÂŁ18 million.
Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, you will take ownership of sourcing, supplier performance, cost reduction and material availability to support production. The role offers significant scope to drive change, improve systems and deliver group-level procurement synergies.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and develop a team of Buyers, providing dayâtoâday direction and longerâterm capability building.
- Manage endâtoâend procurement of direct and indirect materials, services, and CAPEX.
- Develop and deploy sourcing strategies, leveraging groupâwide frameworks and economies of scale across the group.
- Drive cost reduction, contract negotiation and supplier consolidation initiatives.
- Ensure high levels of material availability and OTIF performance for manufacturing operations.
- Own supplier performance management, including quality, delivery, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee MRP accuracy, inventory control and material loss reduction.
- Support risk management, import compliance and outsourcing decisions.
- Play a key role in SAP implementation and optimisation of material operating systems.
- Track and report procurement KPIs, working crossâfunctionally with Production, Planning, Finance and Engineering.
- Managing critical material shortages in a constrained supply market.
- Improving inventory accuracy and working capital performance.
- Reducing material loss and process inefficiencies.
- Stabilising and enhancing material planning and operating systems.
- Driving OTIF improvements across the supplier base.
- Supporting a successful SAP implementation and adoption.
- Proven experience in a Purchasing or Procurement Manager role within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
- Strong mix of strategic sourcing and handsâon transactional procurement.
- Demonstrated people management experience, ideally leading a small to mediumâsized team.
- Track record of cost reduction, supplier negotiation and performance improvement.
- Solid understanding of MRP, inventory management and ERP systems (SAP highly desirable).
- Comfortable operating in a change environment with systems implementation and process improvement.
- Commercially astute, analytical, and able to influence crossâfunctional stakeholders.
Purchasing Manager in Maidstone employer: W Talent
Contact Detail:
W Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Purchasing Manager in Maidstone
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement processes. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around cost reduction and supplier performance management.
â¨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When discussing your past roles, highlight how you've developed teams and driven change. Companies love candidates who can lead and inspire others.
â¨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, weâre always looking for talented individuals who can make an impact in procurement.
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Manager in Maidstone
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Purchasing Manager role. Highlight your experience in procurement, team leadership, and any specific achievements in cost reduction or supplier negotiation that align with what we're looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for procurement and how your background in manufacturing can help us drive change and improve systems at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Achievements: Donât just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use metrics where possible to demonstrate how you've improved supplier performance or reduced costs in previous roles. We love numbers!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you donât miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at W Talent
â¨Know Your Numbers
As a Purchasing Manager, you'll be dealing with significant budgets and KPIs. Brush up on your financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed costs and improved supplier performance in the past. This shows you understand the financial impact of procurement decisions.
â¨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team of buyers, prepare examples that highlight your leadership style. Think about times when you've developed team capabilities or driven change within a group. Be ready to discuss how you motivate and guide your team towards achieving procurement goals.
â¨Understand the Supply Chain Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges in the manufacturing supply chain. Be prepared to discuss how you would tackle issues like material shortages or inventory inaccuracies. This demonstrates your proactive approach and strategic thinking in a constrained market.
â¨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to procurement challenges. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies. This will help interviewers see how you handle real-world problems and your ability to drive improvements in procurement processes.
