Purchasing Lead

Purchasing Lead

£34,000 per annum

Monday – Friday, 8.00 to 16.00. Permanent role.

My long standing and award-winning client is seeking a Purchasing Lead to manage all purchasing activities, ensuring cost control, supplier performance, quality compliance, and material availability to support production and growth.

Candidate Profile

• 5+ years’ experience in manufacturing purchasing (automotive/aerospace preferred)
• Strong negotiation and commercial skills
• MRP/ERP system experience essential
• Data-driven, organised, and proactive
• Confident working in a fast‑paced SME environment
• Strong communication and problem‑solving skills
• Proficient in MS Office

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement

• Develop and deliver purchasing strategy aligned to business goals
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives
• Lead supplier negotiations (price, terms, agreements)
• Benchmark raw material pricing (stainless, inconel, aluminium, consumables)
• Support expansion into aerospace, defence, and regulated sectors

Operational Purchasing

• Manage purchase orders in line with MRP requirements
• Monitor supplier schedules and ensure on‑time delivery (OTIF)
• Expedite critical materials as needed
• Maintain accurate system data (lead times, MOQ, pricing)

Supplier Management

• Build and manage supplier relationships and performance
• Conduct supplier reviews and support corrective actions
• Identify and onboard new suppliers to reduce risk and cost

Cost & Inventory Control

• Control spend in line with budget and cash flow targets
• Negotiate payment terms and identify cost‑saving opportunities
• Optimise stock levels and reduce working capital
• Oversee stock takes, cycle counts, and discrepancy resolution

Financial & Cross‑Functional Support

• Provide cost data (pricing, forecasts, freight, duties) to Finance
• Support standard costing and budgeting processes
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and NPI teams
• Report purchasing performance to senior management

Compliance & Risk

• Ensure ethical procurement and supplier compliance
• Mitigate supply chain risks and maintain traceability
• Support contingency planning for supply disruption

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