Head of Procurement

SF Partners are working with a business based in Newton Abbot who are looking for a Head of Procurement to join the team

£50,000 - £55,000

Office based

Must have a manufacturing / Engineering Procurement background

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to take ownership of the procurement and supplier management function within a growing manufacturing and engineering business.

This is a key operational and commercially focused position responsible for ensuring the business has a reliable, competitive and high-quality supply chain capable of supporting both current production requirements and future growth.

The successful candidate will manage the end-to-end procurement process, from sourcing and supplier selection through to negotiation, performance management and ongoing cost improvement.

The role requires someone who is equally comfortable developing procurement strategy, negotiating commercial agreements and working closely with engineering and production teams to resolve day-to-day supply chain challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Purchasing

Take overall responsibility for the procurement of materials, components, fabricated parts and services required by the business.

Develop and implement an effective procurement strategy aligned with operational and commercial objectives.

Manage the purchasing process from RFQ and supplier selection through to purchase order and delivery.

Ensure materials and components are available to support production schedules and customer commitments.

Work closely with Production, Engineering and Operations to understand current and future material requirements.

Identify opportunities to consolidate spend and improve purchasing leverage.

Supplier Sourcing & Development

Identify, assess and appoint new suppliers across relevant manufacturing and engineering categories.

Develop a robust and resilient supplier base capable of supporting the company's growth.

Conduct supplier benchmarking, tendering and competitive sourcing exercises.

Work with Engineering on the sourcing of new components and materials during product development and introduction.

Develop dual-source and contingency arrangements for business-critical components.

Build strong, long-term relationships with key strategic suppliers.

Commercial & Cost Management

Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers covering price, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities and contractual arrangements.

Deliver measurable year-on-year purchasing savings and cost reduction initiatives.

Challenge supplier pricing and identify opportunities for value engineering and alternative sourcing.

Monitor commodity and material pricing and understand its impact on product costs.

Support make-versus-buy decisions and other strategic sourcing initiatives.

Improve visibility and control of the company's overall external spend.

Supplier Performance & Quality

Establish and monitor supplier KPIs covering cost, quality, delivery and service.

Work closely with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier quality issues and prevent recurrence.

Conduct supplier reviews and, where appropriate, supplier audits.

Manage underperforming suppliers through structured improvement plans.

Monitor on-time delivery and proactively address supply risks before they impact production.

Ensure suppliers meet the required technical, quality and regulatory standards.