Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager

Axon Moore; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Employer pension contribution

Cycle to Work scheme

Holiday purchase scheme

Job summary

Axon Moore is recruiting for a Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager in Bolton. The role offers a salary of £60,000–£65,000 plus excellent benefits. It is a permanent, full-time on-site position within an established engineering and manufacturing business.

The successful candidate will own the purchasing function, lead a small team, and drive supplier performance, cost reduction and supply chain resilience. A strategic yet hands-on approach is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in procurement, purchasing or supply chain.
• Experience managing and developing a team.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience.
• Proven ability delivering cost savings.
• Hands-on, strategic with financial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the purchasing/procurement team and develop strategy.
• Develop procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships and commercial negotiations.
• Drive cost, quality and delivery improvements.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and manage supply risks.
• Ensure material availability supports production and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Finance on budgets and cost control.
• Maximise use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Drive continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Analytical skills

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager Bolton 60,000 - 65,000 + Excellent Benefits Permanent Full Time

We are exclusively supporting an established and growing engineering and manufacturing business with the appointment of a Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement or supply chain professional to take ownership of the purchasing function, lead a small team and play a key role in improving supplier performance, reducing costs and strengthening the overall supply chain.

The role would suit someone who is strategic but hands-on, with the confidence to improve processes while remaining involved in the day-to-day operation.

The Role Reporting to the Operations Director, you will lead the purchasing and supply chain function, working closely with Planning, Inventory, Engineering, Operations and Finance.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing and developing the purchasing/procurement team
• Developing procurement and sourcing strategies
• Managing key supplier relationships and commercial negotiations
• Driving supplier performance across cost, quality and delivery
• Identifying and delivering cost-saving opportunities
• Managing supply risks, shortages and long-lead-time components
• Ensuring material availability supports production and customer requirements
• Developing alternative suppliers and improving supply chain resilience
• Working closely with Engineering on value engineering and cost reduction
• Working closely with Finance on budgets, costs and working capital
• Improving procurement processes, systems and automation
• Developing supplier and procurement KPIs
• Maximising the use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Driving continuous improvement across the supply chain function

About You

We are looking for an experienced Supply Chain Manager, Purchasing Manager, Procurement Manager or Senior Buyer with a strong manufacturing or engineering background.

You will ideally have:

• Minimum 5 years' experience within procurement, purchasing or supply chain
• Previous experience managing and developing a team
• Strong supplier management and negotiation experience
• Proven experience delivering cost savings
• Strong commercial and financial awareness
• Strong Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central experience
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Experience working closely with Finance
• A hands-on, proactive approach
• Excellent communication skills

Experience within engineering, mechanical or electrical manufacturing would be advantageous, as would experience of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, international sourcing and CIPS.

What's on Offer?

• 60,000 - 65,000 salary, negotiable depending on experience
• Permanent, full-time position
• Primarily on-site
• Flexible start times of 7am, 8am or 9am
• Potential 9-day fortnight for the right candidate
• Up to 7.5% employer pension contribution
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• Full company sick pay, including up to 4 weeks at 100% following successful completion of probation
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Long service awards
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives

Why Apply?

This is a key role within a growing manufacturing business where you will have genuine opportunity to shape the purchasing function, develop a team, improve systems, strengthen supplier relationships and deliver measurable commercial savings.

If you are an experienced purchasing or supply chain professional looking for a role offering both strategic influence and hands-on responsibility, we would love to hear from you.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.