Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Manager 
Permanent
Circa 55 - 65k plus bonus
Bedfordshire

Our Distribution company client based in Bedfordshire are seeking a Purchasing Manager to report to their Operations & Supply Chain Director. This is an integral part of the business; the Purchasing Manager will be responsible for developing and executing purchasing strategies with the aim to gain the best possible quality and service for our customers. You will be expected to create and track stock performance metrics, negotiate and manage our supplier relationships, and lead and develop the purchasing team. 

You will work cohesively with the wider management team and operations department to improve forecasting of demand and optimise stock availability, whilst decreasing price, freight costs and mitigating risks. 

Using your experience and knowledge in supply chain management, you will be expected to identify opportunities for improvement across all three divisions with the intent to successfully bring these functions together, contributing to the overall success of our purchasing operations. 

Role and Responsibilities 
This is a diverse role with a wide range of duties. Although not exhaustive, the key duties and responsibilities of the role are as follows:
•    Develop, lead and execute purchasing strategy.
•    Track, analyze, and report key metrics to improve the purchasing function. 
•    Build strong relationships with key suppliers and freight companies; negotiating advantageous terms to reduce cost, improve service delivery and ensure quality. 
•    Stock demand forecasting and supply scheduling. 
•    Identify and manage risks aiming to mitigate wherever possible. 
•    Leadership of the purchasing team, maximizing performance by creating meaningful KPIs and coaching individual team members.
•    Take ownership of purchasing processes and system use, identifying ways to streamline our buying and maximize efficiency.
•    Monitor and hold suppliers accountable for delays, shortages non-conformances.
•    Obtain supplier approval in accordance with ISO 9001 and other applicable Quality Standards e.g. ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate for the position will have the following experience and skills: 
•    Experienced Purchasing Manager who is familiar with sourcing, supplier management and inventory management for a distribution business and working with suppliers both in the UK and overseas. 
•    Strong leadership capabilities to continue to build a collaborative purchasing team, drive performance and develop individuals in the team.
•    Proven background in sourcing and supplier management.  
•    Expertise in supplier relationship management, negotiation skills and networking will be crucial in ensuring cost-effective and high-quality procurement.
•    Analytical; proficient in using systems and tools to gather and analyse data. 
•    Strong business acumen and interest in market dynamics, actively used to support informed decision making. 
•    Process driven with proven experience of creating, implementing and adapting procurement processes. 
•    Academic qualification in a related field would be desirable e.g. CIPS or degree in supply chain management, logistics or business administration. 

Hours: 
•    Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm 

To apply please send an MS Word formatted version of your CV across for our review and consideration.