Commodity Manager

White Label Recruitment Ltd; Leyland; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension: Aviva Defined Contribution

Health care package

Career development opportunities

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Job summary

White Label Recruitment Ltd is recruiting a Commodity Manager in Leyland, Lancashire, offering a permanent role with a 37-hour week. You will take ownership of a key commodity area, shaping the sourcing strategy and driving supplier negotiations across the UK, Europe and beyond.

You will manage relationships with suppliers and internal teams, identify cost reductions and deliver performance improvements, while navigating a complex, international supplier base.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic procurement within manufacturing or engineering environments.
• Ability to own and shape sourcing strategy and supplier base.
• Strong commercially aware decision maker with data-driven insights.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the commodity strategy for the assigned area.
• Lead sourcing exercises and supplier selection.
• Lead commercial negotiations and manage key supplier relationships.
• Identify cost reduction opportunities and drive performance improvements.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality and Materials teams.
• Analyse spend and supplier data to identify opportunities.
• Manage risk and ensure continuity of supply.
• Travel internationally to meet suppliers and support projects.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Cost analysis

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Industry knowledge

Education

Degree or professional equivalent (CIPS preferred)

Job description

Commodity Manager -

Leyland, Lancashire

Up to £55,000 - £65,000 + excellent benefits

Permanent | 37-hour week

I'm recruiting a Commodity Manager for OEM manufacturing business and, for somebody who enjoys proper strategic procurement within a large manufacturing environment, this is an excellent opportunity.

The biggest thing I'd highlight with this role is the level of ownership.

You won't simply be managing orders or reacting to supplier issues. You'll take strategic ownership of your commodity area and have real responsibility for the direction of the supply base - sourcing strategy, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, cost, quality, delivery and longer-term supplier performance.

You’ll be making decisions that have a genuine impact on a major UK manufacturing operation, while working with suppliers and stakeholders across the UK, Europe and South America.

The business:

The scale of the business is probably bigger than a lot of people realise.

They employ over 1,000 people on site, are part of a global organisation meaning the supply base and opportunities are genuinely international.

The site itself is seriously impressive. It is one of Europe's most advanced facilities, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation alongside beautiful, modern new offices.

It feels like a proper engineering and manufacturing business when you walk around it - there is a lot happening and expectations are high - but it is also a very good environment to work in.

And this is something I can actually comment on from experience rather than just repeating the company brochure.

I've placed multiple people into this team and they are, genuinely, all lovely people.

It is a hard-working team and they expect people to pull their weight, but there is genuine autonomy here and a really positive atmosphere around the department. People help each other, there's plenty of experience in the team and it doesn't have that overly corporate or political feel you sometimes get in businesses of this size.

The role

You’ll take ownership of an allocated commodity area and develop the commercial and sourcing strategy around it.

That will include:

• Owning and developing the commodity strategy for your area
• Leading sourcing exercises and supplier selection
• Taking the lead on commercial negotiations
• Managing and developing key supplier relationships
• Identifying and delivering cost reduction opportunities
• Improving supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery and lead times
• Working closely with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Manufacturing and other internal teams
• Supporting new projects and engineering/product changes
• Analysing spend, supplier and commercial data to identify opportunities
• Managing risk and ensuring continuity of supply
• Challenging suppliers and internal stakeholders when needed
• Building longer-term relationships with suppliers rather than simply managing transactions
• Travelling internationally when required to meet suppliers and support projects

There will always be some day-to-day supplier challenges in a manufacturing environment of this scale, but fundamentally this is a strategic procurement role.

They want somebody who can look beyond today's issue and think about where their commodity and supplier base needs to be in the next few years.

Who would suit it?

You’ll ideally have experience within a manufacturing, engineering, automotive, aerospace or similarly complex supply chain environment, and you’ll need to be comfortable taking commercial ownership rather than simply working through a purchasing process.

I’d particularly want to speak with people who have:

• Strong strategic sourcing and negotiation experience
• Experience managing important supplier relationships
• Good commercial awareness and the confidence to challenge
• An understanding of manufacturing supply chains
• Experience working alongside Engineering, Quality and Materials teams
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data commercially
• The ability to influence people without necessarily having direct authority over them
• A proactive approach - somebody who will spot an opportunity or problem and go after it
• A degree, CIPS qualification or equivalent professional experience

Package

• Salary: £55,000 - £65,000
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Holiday: 25 days + bank holidays
• Pension: Aviva Defined Contribution Master Trust Pension
• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical scheme including dental, optical and outpatient cover
• Development: Extensive learning, training and career development opportunities
• Location: Leyland, Lancashire