Purchasing Manager

WR Engineering; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Leadership role with strategic impact

Long-term career progression

Job summary

WR Engineering in the United Kingdom is seeking a Purchasing Manager with a strong mechanical engineering background to own a major international procurement strategy. You will source from China, develop a world-class supplier network, and oversee cost, quality and delivery for a global manufacturer.

Working with the Global Purchasing Director and a Supplier & Quality Development Engineer in China, you’ll expand and strengthen the China supply chain, driving continuous improvement across cost,

Qualifications

• Senior procurement experience in mechanical engineering or manufacturing.
• Extensive sourcing and supplier management across China; Europe/India experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of machining, manufacturing processes and component costs.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder influence skills.

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing strategic supplier relationships across China.
• Identifying and qualifying high-performing machine shops and raw material suppliers.
• Leading commercial negotiations to reduce costs while maintaining exceptional quality.
• Managing complex machined component procurement using your engineering knowledge.
• Ensuring materials are delivered on time to support manufacturing operations in the UK and overseas.
• Driving continuous improvement across cost, quality and supplier performance.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

Strategic procurement

Machining knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Purchasing Manager

Are you an experienced Purchasing Manager with a strong mechanical engineering background and proven success sourcing from China?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a major international procurement strategy, managing a significant engineering spend while developing a world-class supplier network for a globally recognised manufacturer.

Working closely with the Global Purchasing Director and an established Supplier & Quality Development Engineer based in China, you'll play a pivotal role in expanding and strengthening the company's Chinese supply chain, ensuring quality, cost and delivery meet the highest standards.

What you'll be doing:

• Developing and managing strategic supplier relationships across China.
• Identifying and qualifying high-performing machine shops and raw material suppliers.
• Leading commercial negotiations to reduce costs while maintaining exceptional quality.
• Managing complex machined component procurement using your engineering knowledge.
• Ensuring materials are delivered on time to support manufacturing operations in the UK and overseas.
• Driving continuous improvement across cost, quality and supplier performance.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Senior procurement experience within mechanical engineering or manufacturing.
• Extensive sourcing and supplier management experience across China (experience in Europe and India is also highly desirable).
• A solid understanding of machining, manufacturing processes and component costs.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills with a collaborative, long-term approach.
• The ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders at all levels.

What's on offer?

• A highly competitive salary and benefits package.
• The opportunity to influence a 50m engineering supply chain.
• A key leadership position with genuine strategic impact.
• Long-term career progression within a successful international engineering business.

If you're an ambitious procurement professional who enjoys building global supplier partnerships and delivering commercial results, we'd love to hear from you.