Purchasing Director

Zachary Daniels; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international company is looking for a Purchasing Director to oversee their purchasing strategy from their Birmingham HQ. The successful candidate will lead teams in Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance while negotiating with suppliers and ensuring cost-effective purchasing practices. This pivotal role requires strategic vision and proven leadership in high-volume industries.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior purchasing and stock management role.
• Track record of successful strategic global sourcing, particularly from Southeast Asia.
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced industries like retail or FMCG.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance functions.
• Leading cost-saving initiatives and negotiations with suppliers.
• Driving best practices and process improvements across all functions.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Strategic sourcing

Results-focused mindset

Tools

SAP

MRP systems

Job description

Purchasing Director Leicester (On-site)
Are you a strategic purchasing leader ready to step up and make an impact in a dynamic, growing business? We're partnering with a successful international company supplying major household names - and they're looking for an experienced Purchasing Director to join their senior leadership team at their Birmingham HQ.
About the role
As Purchasing Director, you'll oversee the Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance functions. You'll drive cost-saving strategies, strengthen supplier relationships across Europe and Asia, and ensure high standards of compliance, stock management, and process excellence.

This is a hands-on role - you'll negotiate directly with suppliers, approve major purchasing decisions, and lead initiatives to reduce costs and optimise stock without compromising on quality or service.

Regular international travel is part of the role - you'll build and maintain strong partnerships with key suppliers in Europe and Southeast Asia.
What you'll be doing

• Leading and developing teams across Purchasing, Stock Control, and QA.
  
• Creating and delivering cost-saving programmes with Category Managers - using product re-engineering, innovation, and supplier development.
  
• Overseeing supplier selection and direct negotiations.
  
• Managing purchase order approvals in SAP and other internal systems.
  
• Monitoring and reducing slow-moving stock, while maintaining agreed service levels.
  
• Ensuring compliance with waste legislation, customer standards and ethical requirements.
  
• Driving best practice, process improvements and continuous development across all functions.
  
• Building long-term relationships with strategic global partners.
  

What you'll bring

• Proven experience in a senior purchasing and stock management role.
  
• A track record of successful strategic global sourcing - ideally with experience purchasing from Southeast Asia.
  
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced industries such as retail or FMCG is desirable.
  
• Strong negotiation skills and the confidence to build trusted relationships at senior levels.
  
• Familiarity with MRP systems and working knowledge of SAP.
  
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
  
• A commercial, results-focused mindset with a hands-on leadership style.
  

Why apply?
This is an opportunity to shape purchasing strategy for an ambitious business working with some of the world's best-known brands. You'll have genuine influence, international scope, and the chance to lead and develop high-performing teams.

Location: Leicester - on-site Travel: Regular international travel across Europe and Southeast Asia Type: Full-time, permanent

Ready for your next challenge?If you're a commercially minded, strategic purchasing leader looking for a fresh opportunity, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch for a confidential chat!

BBBH33906