Purchasing Director

IIRUC SERVICE SA; Leicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a strategic Purchasing Director to join their senior leadership team in Leicester. This hands-on role involves overseeing purchasing functions, driving cost-saving initiatives, and managing supplier relationships internationally. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in strategic sourcing and a results-focused mindset.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior purchasing roles.
• Track record of strategic global sourcing.
• Experience in fast-paced industries (FMCG, retail) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance functions.
• Negotiate directly with suppliers and approve purchasing decisions.
• Drive cost-saving strategies and ensure compliance with legislation.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

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!

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