Procurement Manager

Debenhams Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is looking for an experienced Procurement Manager in Manchester. The role involves managing supplier relationships, ensuring cost savings, and supporting internal stakeholders with sourcing strategies. Ideal candidates will have strong negotiation skills and experience in procurement processes. Join us to be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in retail.

Qualifications

• Proven record of achieving cost savings through negotiation/operational change.
• Decision making and problem solving skills.
• Excellent forward planning and organization skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with key suppliers for high service levels.
• Work with stakeholders to implement category strategy plans.
• Conduct sourcing and contract negotiations across categories.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Excel skills

Stakeholder management

Commercial and financial acumen

Rapid problem-solving

Education

Procurement qualification (CIPS/Degree level)

Job description

At Debenhams Group, we are a diverse portfolio of five core brands (boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen, and Debenhams) alongside a dynamic marketplace model and a growing financial services division, it keeps us pretty busy!

We don’t stand still, we lead, evolve, and redefine online fashion. With bold ambitions and big energy, we’re on a mission to be the best, delivering the strongest propositions to our customers in the most engaging, innovative, and efficient ways possible.

We thrive on change, innovation, and pace. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every day is a chance to push boundaries. If you’re someone who embraces the unknown, thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment, and is ready to shape the future of retail, you’ll love it here. We want visionaries, disruptors, and doers, people who bring fresh thinking, relentless energy, and the drive to make an impact.

Be bold. Be creative. Be a community.

THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced, hands on Procurement Manager to join a fast paced, super reactive team… no two days are the same here and you must be able to think commercially and think on your feet. We are ideally looking for someone with IT Procurement experience but a general understanding of other areas would also be beneficial.

You will play a key role in supporting the business with the effective sourcing and management of external suppliers across all categories of indirect goods and services for the Debenhams Group. The focus will be on achieving best value for money, meeting financial budgets and savings targets, driving innovation and continuous improvement, and minimising risk across all spend areas. This role is primarily based in Manchester 5 days per week, though occasional travel to other sites may be required depending on project needs.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Relationship management of key suppliers to ensure consistently high service levels are achieved and to drive continuous improvement and minimise risk – ensuring relationships are not purely transactional. I.E QBR’s, in person meetings where relevant.
• Form excellent relationships with internal budget-holders and stake-holders. Ensuring that projects are well defined, and business cases are fully approved prior to sourcing activity being undertaken, in particular prior to C suite sign off.
• Work with the Head of Procurement & Internal Stakeholders to formulate and successfully implement category strategy plans to support cost reviews across multiple areas in the business.
• Managing the commercial relationships with both new and incumbent suppliers, to ensure contracts and commercial arrangements are competitively priced and robust from a risk and governance perspective, legally robust and that service levels are established, monitored and exceeded by our suppliers;
• Supporting the Head of Procurement & Internal stakeholders in formal sourcing and contract review processes as well as in-contract commercial and contract negotiations across the category(s);
• Regularly research alternative suppliers and the wider markets to ensure ongoing best practice is driven into our services;
• Preparation of monthly reports and updates for the Head of Procurement for presentation to the Board & Internal Directors.
  

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• A proven record of achieving cost savings through negotiation/operational change
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Excel skills and ability to analyse spend information/invoices and produce cost models/comparisons
• Target-focussed with the ability to work quickly when required
• Decision making and problem solving skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent forward planning and organisation skills
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Communication, networking and interpersonal relationship skills
• Can use initiative when necessary and work well in a team
• Rapid Problem-solving
• Commercial and financial acumen and awareness of the market
• Driven with the ability to stay calm under pressure and multitask

Desired (But not essential)

• Procurement qualification (CIPS/Degree level)
• Project management skills

WHY JOIN US

2025 is a year for making bold moves, delivering real results, and driving forward with unstoppable momentum. If that excites you, then you belong at Debenhams Group.

Let’s lead the change together. 🚀