Head of Group Purchasing - Construction

Henley Chase; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company benefits package

Lead and develop group function

Long-term career progression

Job summary

Henley Chase is seeking an experienced Head of Group Purchasing to lead procurement across the business and manage supplier relationships. You will oversee processes, negotiate terms and ensure timely, cost-effective delivery of materials and services.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, leadership of a small team and the ability to collaborate with pre-construction and site teams to optimise value and performance on projects.

Qualifications

• Senior purchasing or procurement experience required.
• Strong commercial awareness focused on cost, quality and delivery.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Analytical and numerical ability.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Office.
• Excellent communication and ability to work with site teams.
• Ability to manage multiple enquiries and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage group purchasing across multiple departments.
• Purchase materials while balancing cost, quality and delivery.
• Support and develop the Buyer with guidance and training.
• Report on purchasing activity, supplier performance and market changes.
• Build strong relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors.
• Collaborate with pre-construction on tenders and procurement strategies.
• Prepare and issue enquiry packages for materials.
• Review supplier quotations and negotiate terms.
• Monitor supplier performance against contracts.
• Place orders and coordinate deliveries with site teams.
• Maintain purchasing records and cost logs.
• Resolve pricing and delivery queries.

Skills

Senior purchasing

Procurement

Supplier negotiation

Cost control

Data analysis

Excel/Office

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Head of Group Purchasing

Salary: Competitive, depending on experienceJob Type: Permanent

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Head of Group Purchasing to lead and manage procurement activity across the wider business.

The successful candidate will oversee purchasing processes, supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and the timely procurement of materials and services. You will work closely with senior management, pre-construction and site teams to ensure projects receive the required materials and services at the right cost, quality and time.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage group purchasing and procurement activities across multiple departments.
• Purchase materials, goods and services while balancing cost, quality and delivery requirements.
• Manage, support and develop the Buyer, including delegation of tasks, guidance and training.
• Report to senior management on purchasing activity, supplier performance and market changes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors.
• Work closely with pre-construction teams on tender enquiries, procurement strategies and value engineering.
• Prepare and issue enquiry packages for construction and civil engineering materials.
• Review and evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate competitive commercial terms.
• Assess and monitor supplier performance, ensuring contractual and commercial requirements are met.
• Place orders and coordinate with site teams to programme deliveries and expedite materials where required.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, order logs and cost comparison spreadsheets.
• Check and approve invoices, resolving pricing and delivery queries where necessary.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a senior purchasing or procurement role.
• Strong commercial awareness with a focus on cost, quality and delivery.
• Excellent supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Good analytical and numerical ability.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Confident using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to extract accurate information from site and operational teams.
• Ability to manage multiple enquiries, orders and deadlines simultaneously.
• A proactive and commercially minded approach to procurement.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

Package

• Competitive salary
• Company benefits package
• Opportunity to lead and develop a group-wide purchasing function
• Long-term career progression