Procurement Manager

The Collective Network Limited; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A food and drink manufacturer in Hertfordshire is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead purchasing for ingredients and packaging. The ideal candidate has a solid background in the food industry and is adept in negotiations and analytical thinking. This role offers a salary of up to £50,000, plus benefits including 23 days holiday, flexible benefits, and staff discounts.

Benefits

23 days holiday + bank holidays

Flexible benefits platform

Staff discounts

Free parking

Enhanced family leave

Qualifications

• Experience as a Procurement Manager or Buyer in the food, beverage, or manufacturing sector.
• Ability to balance quality, cost, and supply.
• Confident in negotiations and good with numbers.

Responsibilities

• Lead all purchasing activity for ingredients, packaging, and materials.
• Review supplier performance and negotiate improved commercial terms.
• Track commodity pricing and develop actionable cost strategies.
• Source new ingredients and packaging solutions.
• Work with Supply Chain to ensure continuity of supply.
• Develop consistent processes, contracts, and reporting tools.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Experience in food or manufacturing

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

Procurement Manager - Food & Drink Manufacturing (up to 50k) Hertfordshire (on-site, with occasional travel) (Permanent, full-time).

Not every food business is a household name, but some quietly supply the brands you see every day. This is one of those companies. They've been creating high-quality, flavour-focused products for the food and drink industry for a long time. Family-owned, quality-obsessed, and proudly independent, they've built a reputation for reliability, innovation, and doing things the right way. They're now looking for a Procurement Manager to take ownership of purchasing across ingredients and packaging, and to bring structure, strategy, and commercial edge to how they buy.

Responsibilities

• Lead all purchasing activity for ingredients, packaging, and materials.
• Review supplier performance and negotiate improved commercial terms.
• Track commodity pricing and translate data into actionable cost strategies.
• Support NPD by sourcing new ingredients and packaging solutions.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations to ensure continuity of supply.
• Develop processes, contracts, and reporting tools that bring consistency and control.

About you

You've probably been working as a Procurement Manager, Buyer, or Senior Buyer in a food, beverage, or manufacturing environment. You understand what it takes to balance quality, cost, and supply. You're confident in negotiations, good with numbers, and naturally curious about how things can be improved. You like being close to the product, you're not afraid of detail, and you want your work to make a visible impact.

The package

• Salary up to 50,000, depending on experience
• 23 days holiday + bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Flexible benefits platform (discounts, wellbeing, etc.)
• Staff discounts and regular product tastings
• Free parking and a collaborative, down-to-earth working culture
• Enhanced family leave and death-in-service after probation

Location: Based in Hertfordshire, with some travel to partner sites across the South East. If you want to build a procurement function that actually makes a difference - not just manage a process - this one's worth a look.