Purchasing Director

ZipRecruiter; Leicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international company is seeking a Purchasing Director to drive their procurement strategy. You will oversee operations related to Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance while maintaining supplier relationships internationally. This dynamic role offers the opportunity to shape purchasing strategy and enhance operational efficiencies across a high-performing team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior purchasing and stock management role.
• Strong negotiation skills for interactions at senior levels.
• Experience in fast-paced industries like retail or FMCG is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance functions.
• Lead negotiations and manage purchase order approvals.
• Drive cost-saving strategies and supplier relationship development.

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Stakeholder Management

Communication Skills

Commercial Mindset

Education

Experience in Purchasing and Stock Management

Tools

SAP

MRP Systems

Job description

Job DescriptionPurchasing 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!

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