Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager

James Fisher and Sons plc; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Career growth opportunities

Inclusive culture

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc is seeking a Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager to lead vessel procurement across Fendercare and Tankships, with hybrid options in Norwich or Barrow-in-Furness. The role combines hands-on purchasing, supplier management, and continuous improvement, reporting to the Head of Supply Chain Management.

You will oversee day-to-day vessel purchasing, manage supply risks, and drive governance and best practice across the business while coaching a small team and ensuring

Qualifications

• Significant purchasing and supply chain experience within maritime, shipping, engineering, or a similar technical environment.
• Previous experience leading or supervising procurement and supply chain teams.
• Strong supplier sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management expertise.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day vessel purchasing activities, ensuring requirements are fulfilled efficiently.
• Support critical vessel operations by managing supply risks and maintaining visibility of procurement activity.
• Source, evaluate, and develop suppliers to achieve best balance of cost, quality and service.
• Negotiate terms, monitor supplier performance, drive improvements across supplier base.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Purchasers and Supply Chain Coordinators.
• Promote high standards of performance, compliance, collaboration and customer service.

Skills

Maritime procurement

Team leadership

Supplier management

Negotiation

ERP systems

Import/export knowledge

Education

CIPS Level 4 or above

Tools

AMOS

ERP systems

Job description

About the Role

Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager Full-Time, Permanent Norwich or Barrow-in-Furness with Hybrid Working

The Role:

The Purchasing & Supply Chain Manager leads purchasing and supply chain operations across Fendercare and Tankships, ensuring vessel requirements are met efficiently, suppliers deliver value, and procurement processes are followed. Managing a small team, the role combines hands‑on procurement, supplier management, and continuous improvement, while supporting the Head of Supply Chain Management in driving operational excellence across the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced maritime procurement professional to take ownership of a growing purchasing function while helping shape procurement standards and supply chain performance across multiple business units

What you’ll be doing:

• Oversee day‑to‑day vessel purchasing activities, ensuring requirements are fulfilled efficiently and supply issues are resolved promptly.
• Support critical vessel operations by managing supply risks and maintaining visibility of procurement activity.
• Source, evaluate, and develop suppliers to achieve the best balance of cost, quality, and service.
• Negotiate commercial terms, monitor supplier performance, and drive continuous improvement across the supplier base.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Purchasers and Supply Chain Coordinators.
• Promote high standards of performance, compliance, collaboration, and customer service.
• Drive consistent purchasing practices, governance, and procurement best practice across Fendercare and Tankships.
• Support supplier onboarding, quotation evaluation, and purchasing decision‑making.
• Support delivery scheduling, inventory management, and supply continuity to meet operational and vessel requirements.
• Mitigate supply chain risks and manage disruptions to minimise business impact.
• Ensure procurement data is accurately maintained and processes are consistently followed.
• Monitor key performance indicators, report on operational performance, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and delegated authority limits.

What we’re looking for:

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant purchasing and supply chain experience within maritime, shipping, engineering, or a similar technical environment.
• Previous experience leading or supervising procurement and supply chain teams.
• Strong supplier sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management expertise.
• Knowledge of marine procurement, MRO materials, vessel operations, and international supply chain processes.
• Experience with ERP or vessel management systems (AMOS desirable).
• Understanding of import/export and customs requirements.

Skills & Attributes

• Hands‑on leader with strong commercial awareness and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent organisational, problem‑solving, and prioritisation abilities.
• Confident communicator with the ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and develop others.
• High attention to detail, process discipline, and resilience in a fast‑paced operational environment.

Qualifications

• Relevant procurement, purchasing, or supply chain experience is valued equally to formal qualifications.
• CIPS Level 4 or above (or equivalent) desirable.

Why join us?

• Competitive benefits tailored to the division
• Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation
• A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions
• Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

With two centuries of maritime shipping and innovation, James Fisher is a trusted partner in the safe and efficient movement of the world’s critical resources. As a market leader in ship‑to‑ship transfer and coastal shipping, we help customers protect people, cargo and infrastructure while shaping the future of global maritime transport. You can find out more about Maritime transport here

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.

To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA