Purchasing Manager

Aqumen Recruitment; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Aqumen Recruitment is seeking a proactive Purchasing Manager for a well-established manufacturing business in Halifax. The role involves overseeing procurement activities, managing inventory, negotiating with suppliers, and ensuring compliance with quality standards. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in procurement, excellent negotiation skills, and relevant qualifications in procurement or supply chain management.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a procurement or purchasing role, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and confident negotiation skills.
• Excellent proficiency in Excel.
• Degree qualified or holding relevant CIPS qualifications, or equivalent experience.
• Detail-oriented and analytical mindset with strong organisational abilities.
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills to build and manage supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the purchasing function, setting strategy and ensuring alignment with wider business goals.
• Manage and develop the purchasing team, delegating effectively and supporting professional development.
• Control the raw material purchasing budget, ensuring alignment with group procurement policies.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure favourable terms on pricing, lead times, and payment conditions.
• Maintain accurate stock inventory records and manage materials in line with production schedules.
• Ensure product pricing data and Bills of Materials (BOMs) are kept up to date for costing accuracy.
• Coordinate with internal departments to guarantee smooth delivery of materials and components.
• Lead quarterly stocktakes, investigating and validating any variances.
• Monitor and report on supplier performance and quality standards.
• Prepare regular purchasing and inventory reports to support business planning.
• Ensure full compliance with ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001, and environmental and sustainability standards.
• Occasional UK and European travel to suppliers may be required.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Supplier management

Team leadership

Negotiation skills

Excel proficiency

ERP/Procurement systems (SAP)

Education

Degree

CIPS qualifications

Job description

Job Title: Purchasing Manager
Location: Halifax
Salary: GBP40,000 per annum
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am 5:00pm
Reporting to: Supply Chain Manager
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Overview:

This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive and commercially minded Purchasing Manager to join a well-established manufacturing business. The role will suit an individual with strong experience in procurement strategy, supplier management, and team leadership, particularly within fast-paced industrial or production environments.

The successful candidate will take ownership of all procurement activities, overseeing raw material purchasing, managing inventory levels, leading supplier negotiations, and ensuring the cost-effective and timely acquisition of goods and services in line with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the purchasing function, setting strategy and ensuring alignment with wider business goals.
• Manage and develop the purchasing team, delegating effectively and supporting professional development.
• Control the raw material purchasing budget, ensuring alignment with group procurement policies.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure favourable terms on pricing, lead times, and payment conditions.
• Maintain accurate stock inventory records and manage materials in line with production schedules.
• Ensure product pricing data and Bills of Materials (BOMs) are kept up to date for costing accuracy.
• Coordinate with internal departments to guarantee smooth delivery of materials and components.
• Lead quarterly stocktakes, investigating and validating any variances.
• Monitor and report on supplier performance and quality standards.
• Prepare regular purchasing and inventory reports to support business planning.
• Ensure full compliance with ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001, and environmental and sustainability standards.
• Occasional UK and European travel to suppliers may be required.

Candidate Profile:

• Proven experience in a procurement or purchasing role, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and confident negotiation skills.
• Excellent proficiency in Excel; experience with ERP/procurement systems (SAP desirable).
• Degree qualified or holding relevant CIPS qualifications, or equivalent experience.
• A detail-oriented and analytical mindset with strong organisational abilities.
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills to build and manage supplier relationships.

Aqumen Business Solutions is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.