Job Description:

Purchasing Manager

£55,000 + excellent benefits
Exclusive assignment | permanent | Manufacturing

We are delighted to be working exclusively with a highly successful, privately owned manufacturing group to appoint a Purchasing Manager. This is a business with an impressive track record, a strong order book, and an excellent reputation for delivering complex projects for major customers across a range of sectors.

More importantly, it's a genuinely good place to work. The culture is built around hardworking people who care about what they do. You'll be joining a business where relationships matter, and colleagues pull together to get things done. If you value a warm, friendly environment full of honest people who take pride in their work, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

This could be a brilliant stepping stone for a Senior Buyer looking for their next step, or an Assistant / Purchasing Manager looking for their next challenge.

The Opportunity

You will take responsibility for purchasing strategy, supplier management, contract negotiations and the day-to-day leadership of a small purchasing team.

This is a hands-on leadership role within a project-led environment. You'll need the ability to think strategically whilst remaining close enough to the operation to support technical discussions, challenge suppliers and make informed commercial decisions.

With an annual spend of approximately £20m, you'll play a key role in ensuring material availability, managing cost pressures and supporting project delivery across multiple business units.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies across the group
• Negotiate framework agreements and project-specific supplier contracts
• Lead and develop a team of Buyers and Purchasing Administrators
• Own key supplier relationships and performance management processes
• Drive cost reduction, value improvement and supply chain resilience
• Work closely with operational, manufacturing and project teams
• Review purchasing activity, budgets and performance metrics
• Support the business in forecasting material costs and availability
• Take ownership of additional indirect spend categories over time
• Ensure purchasing processes support a fast-paced, project-driven operation

About You

We're looking for an experienced procurement professional who combines strong commercial acumen with a practical understanding of manufacturing or engineering environments.

You'll likely have experience within:

• Engineering manufacturing
• Construction-related manufacturing
• Industrial project environments

• Reading engineering or fabrication drawings
• Managing strategic supplier relationships
• Negotiating contracts and framework agreements
• Working in a business where priorities can change quickly

Experience Required

• Strong supplier negotiation and contract management experience
• Background within engineering, manufacturing or construction-related industries
• Knowledge of materials purchasing
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and related business systems

Package

• £55,000 + Private health care (including partner cover)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• 4% employer pension contribution
• 37.5 hours per week
• Primarily office-based

This is an opportunity to join a successful business at a pivotal point in its journey. You'll inherit strong supplier relationships and have the autonomy to shape purchasing strategy across multiple operating companies.

For procurement professionals who enjoy being close to operations, influencing key decisions and working alongside genuine, hardworking people, this role offers an excellent blend of responsibility, stability and long-term career opportunity.

To find out more, or to apply in confidence, please contact us directly. As the exclusive recruitment partner for this assignment, all applications will be handled with complete discretion.

To apply for the Purchasing Manager position, please click on the apply now button and your CV will be sent directly to the responsible recruiter. We will respond to successful applicants within 7 days, however please feel free to get in touch if you would like any further information about your application.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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