Purchasing and Planning Manager

Placr Recruitment; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Placr Recruitment in East Sussex is seeking an experienced Purchasing & Planning Manager to lead a four-person team in a high‑complexity manufacturing environment. You will own purchasing and production planning, ensure materials are available when needed and support 95%+ on-time delivery to customers and suppliers.

You’ll collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Sales, driving continuous improvement and scalable systems for growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience across purchasing and production planning.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a leadership or management position.
• Strong background in production planning, purchasing and scheduling.
• Experience leading and developing a team.
• Excellent supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability.
• A structured approach to planning, prioritisation and delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in advanced manufacturing or technically complex environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of four purchasing and planning professionals.
• Manage purchasing, production planning and scheduling.
• Drive supplier performance and on-time delivery.
• Support a target of 95%+ customer and supplier on-time delivery.
• Develop efficient, scalable purchasing and planning processes.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Provide commercial and operational insight to senior management.
• Work with Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Sales.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Supplier management

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Degree-level qualification

Job description

Purchasing & Planning Manager

Location: Hailsham, East Sussex

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Hours: Monday–Friday | Permanent

Exciting Opportunity – Purchasing & Planning Manager

Placr Recruitment is looking for an experienced Purchasing & Planning Manager to join our client, an established and rapidly growing advanced manufacturing business based in East Sussex.

This is a key leadership position with responsibility for purchasing, production planning and scheduling, leading a team of four and playing an important role in supporting the company's continued growth.

You’ll be joining a technically advanced, high-complexity manufacturing environment where strong planning, supplier performance and operational efficiency are critical to success.

The Role

You’ll take ownership of purchasing and production planning, ensuring materials and resources are available when required and supporting the business in achieving 95%+ on-time delivery to customers and from suppliers.

Working closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Sales, you’ll combine strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach to improve processes, strengthen supplier performance and build scalable systems for future growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and develop a team of four purchasing and planning professionals.


• Manage purchasing, production planning and scheduling.


• Drive supplier performance and on‑time delivery.


• Support a target of 95%+ customer and supplier on‑time delivery.


• Develop efficient, scalable purchasing and planning processes.


• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.


• Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.


• Provide commercial and operational insight to senior management.


• Work collaboratively across Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Sales.


• Support the company's continued growth and operational development.


• Attend customer meetings, site visits and industry events when required.

About You

We’re looking for a confident, energetic and commercially minded purchasing and planning professional with significant experience in a low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environment.

You’ll ideally have:

• 10+ years’ experience across purchasing and production planning.


• At least 5 years’ experience in a leadership or management position.


• A strong background in production planning, purchasing and scheduling.


• Experience leading and developing a team.


• Excellent supplier management and negotiation skills.


• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability.


• A structured approach to planning, prioritisation and delivery.


• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.


• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a fast-moving, high-growth business.


• Degree‑level qualifications or equivalent experience.

Experience within advanced manufacturing or technically complex engineering environments would be highly advantageous.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Purchasing & Planning Manager to take a senior role within a growing, innovation‑led manufacturing business.

You’ll have the opportunity to lead a team, influence operational strategy, improve processes and directly contribute to the company’s next stage of growth.

If you’re an experienced purchasing and planning leader who enjoys taking ownership, improving performance and making a measurable difference, we’d like to hear from you