Procurement Manager

Avondale Foods Ltd; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in Northern Ireland is seeking a Procurement Manager to oversee the produce supply base, ensuring cost control and compliance with food safety standards. The successful candidate will have 2-3 years of relevant experience, ideally in fresh produce, along with a related degree. This role offers opportunities for personal growth and training within a dynamic market environment.

Benefits

Pension Fund

Meal Allowance / Canteen

Medical Aid / Health Care

Wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• 2-3 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally dealing with fresh produce.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent organisational skills.
• Experience supporting budget planning processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage the produce supply base, ensuring availability while controlling costs.
• Lead site services procurement including various utilities and services.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and integrity.

Skills

Procurement

Procurement Project Management

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Negotiation

Education

Degree in a related field

Tools

ERP systems

Advanced Excel skills

Job description

Mission

Our mission is to create new products, to develop partnerships with new and existing customers and suppliers to guarantee the long-term sustainability of Avondale Foods as an organisation.

Job Position: Procurement Manager Department: Produce Purchasing Reports to: Senior Purchasing Manager Hours: 40 hours per week (Mon-Fri)

Scope of Role

Avondale Foods is a leading food manufacturing company of Fresh and Chilled products supplying leading retail businesses including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Dunnes, Morrisons, Aldi & Lidl throughout the UK & Ireland.

As part of our succession planning strategy, the creation of this role represents a unique opportunity for the successful applicant to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to operate in a dynamic market, procuring millions of pounds worth of produce every year. Our highly skilled and experienced Senior Purchasing Manager will train and mentor the incoming Procurement Manager to eventually take over the fresh produce procurement function for Avondale Foods.

Our growth and expansion plans will ensure that the Procurement Manager will play a key role in the success of production trials and meeting launch deadlines, directly influencing overall production workflow. They will contribute to company profitability by reducing material costs and supporting business growth. From a technical perspective, the role ensures due diligence on site, maintaining integrity and upholding the highest standards of food safety. This role is fully on-site at our premises in Craigavon.

Key Responsibilities

Responsible for managing the produce supply base, ensuring availability while balancing seasonal fluctuations, cost control and budget adherence. Requires strong communication, foresight, and problem-solving skills to maintain supply resilience – avoiding both shortages and over-ordering.

• Ensure resilience planning is in place and maintained on site across all areas
• Plan fresh produce in line with growing through to harvesting, staying up to date with forecasting and updates.
• Lead site services procurement including laundry, pest control, vending, gas, electricity, chemicals, forklifts, and drinking water.
• Ensure compliance with company protocol and policies.
• Proven experience implementing Lean Manufacturing methodologies to drive process improvements and operational excellence.
• Monitor supply performance and negotiate the best price, strategically sourcing new suppliers if necessary.
• Identify efficiency opportunities and drive improvements through innovation and best practices.
• Liaise daily with production department, report stock levels and any disruptions to supply chain.
• Work closely with the Technical Department to build and maintain strong collaborative relationships, ensuring alignment on quality standards, food safety compliance, and product development objectives
• Proven experience in preparing, submitting, and managing tenders, as well as conducting successful contract negotiations with suppliers.
• Uphold food safety and integrity standards and ensure products meet requirements.
• Conduct and support audits of suppliers and service providers to ensure compliance with food safety, ethical sourcing and legal requirements.
• Involvement in strategic projects, contributing to business planning and risk mitigation in line with company growth.
• Contribute to the development of a culture of Integrity, collaboration ‘do the right thing’ approach in all interactions.
• Ensure Food Safety compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements to remain audit-ready at all times.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

2-3 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally dealing with fresh produce

Educated to degree level in a related field

Experience in allocating resources and delivering results.

Experience supporting budget planning processes

Strong IT literacy with proven experience using ERP systems to manage and analyse operational data.

Good negotiation skills and proven ability to build rapport with both internal and external stakeholders effectively

Strong attention to detail with excellent organisational skills

Proven ability to remain composed and professional under pressure, with excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.

Valid Passport and eligibility to travel nationally and internationally

Desirable Criteria

Specific supply chain related qualification

Evident experience in project management and Lean Manufacturing

Familiarity with sustainability and ethical sourcing standards

Experience contributing to strategic procurement initiatives

Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP/MRP systems

Skills

• Procurement
• Procurement Project Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Supplier Negotiation

Benefits

• Pension Fund
• Meal Allowance / Canteen
• Medical Aid / Health Care
• Wellbeing initiatives