Procurement Manager

Procurement Manager

Location: Medium-sized bathroom furniture manufacturer and supplier of associated bathroom products. Midlands, UK

Reports to: Managing Director Contract: Permanent, full-time

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Team: Purchasing and Procurement Travel: UK and occasional overseas trips

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Role purpose

Lead the procurement function across all business and manufacturing materials, components and finished bathroom products. Ensure reliable supply at the right quality, cost and stock level, supporting production continuity, customer service and profitable growth.

The role combines strategic sourcing with hands-on purchasing in a busy, medium-sized manufacturing business.

Key responsibilities

• Procurement strategy: Develop procurement category plans and sourcing strategies aligned with production and marketing requirements, sales forecasts, and new product introductions, at the same time as working alongside the finance team and within agreed financial parameters.
• Materials and product sourcing: Manage the day-to-day supply of raw materials as well as collaboratively exploring new opportunities and routes.
• Commercial management: Negotiate pricing, payment terms, rebates, lead times, minimum order quantities and supply agreements. Evaluate costs, including inbound transport, quality and stockholding profile.
• Supplier performance: Select and approve suppliers alongside relevant internal teams and alongside vendor appraisal system. Monitor delivery, quality, capacity and financial risk; conduct reviews and agree corrective actions where required.
• Supply continuity: Anticipate shortages, manage supplier escalations and establish alternative sources for critical materials and products.
• Planning and inventory: Work with production planning, sales and warehousing to maintain appropriate stock levels, improve availability and reduce excess, obsolete stock and costs.
• Quality and compliance: Partner with technical and quality teams to ensure purchased items meet specifications, traceability requirements and applicable product, environmental and responsible-sourcing standards.
• Systems and controls: Maintain accurate supplier, cost and lead-time data in the ERP/MRP system. Ensure purchasing follows approval limits, contract controls and company policies. In addition, develop the internal MRP system alongside IT to improve purchasing simplicity and visibility.
• Business improvements and reporting: Report on procurement performance and KPI’s and deliver measurable improvements without compromising quality or service.
• Leadership: Develop and mentor the purchasing team.

Experience and skills

• Essential: Proven procurement or purchasing management experience in manufacturing, with responsibility for suppliers, negotiations and material availability.
• Strong commercial judgement, analytical skills and practical experience of ERP/MRP systems, inventory management and spreadsheet-based reporting.
• Proven success in cost improvement, supplier development and resolving supply problems.
• Clear communication and effective stakeholder management across production, finance, sales, marketing, technical and warehouse teams.
• Ability to lead a small team, prioritise competing demands and remain hands-on in a fast-moving business.
• Desirable: Experience in bathroom furniture, cabinetry, timber-based manufacturing, building products or associated bathroom products.
• Desirable: CIPS qualification, or progress towards it; experience of overseas sourcing, imports and intercompany trading.

Measures of success

Examples of postholder success, but not exhaustive include.

• Supplier on-time, in-full delivery performance
• Verified procurement savings.
• Ownership of stock holding inline with business targets and requirements
• Appropriate stock availability, improved stock turn and reduced obsolete inventory.

Working arrangements

Site-based to support close collaboration with manufacturing and different business units. The postholder will demonstrate integrity, fair supplier treatment, safe working practices and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Benefits:

• Company car
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person