Strategic Planning & Purchasing Lead

Vacgen Ltd; Lower Dicker; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Salary sacrifice pension

Life assurance

State-of-the-art environment

Opportunity to shape growth

Job summary

VACGEN is seeking a Planning and Purchasing Manager in East Sussex to lead a high‑performing team and align materials, resources, and schedules with business goals. You will collaborate across Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Sales to deliver exceptional on‑time performance and scalable processes that support growth.

The role offers strategic influence, opportunities to shape supplier partnerships, and a pivotal impact on operational performance and future growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in purchasing and planning within a low‑volume, high‑complexity manufacturing environment.
• At least 5 years’ leadership or management experience.
• Proven success in production planning, purchasing, inventory management, and supplier performance.
• Strong track record of leading teams and improving operational performance.
• Experience supporting business growth, transformation, or scale‑up initiatives.
• Degree qualified or equivalent industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing Planning & Purchasing team.
• Drive world‑class planning, scheduling, purchasing, and supplier management processes.
• Achieve and maintain exceptional on‑time delivery performance from both suppliers and internal operations.
• Build scalable systems and processes to support business growth and increased demand.
• Monitor performance, identify risks, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strengthen supplier relationships while ensuring cost, quality, and delivery objectives are met.
• Collaborate across departments to align operational priorities and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Contribute to strategic planning, capacity management, and long‑term business objectives.
• Provide operational insight and commercial expertise to support senior leadership decision‑making.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Team development

Production planning

Purchasing

Inventory management

Supplier performance

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Degree qualified

Job description

VACGEN is seeking a Planning and Purchasing Manager in East Sussex to lead a high‑performing team and align materials, resources, and schedules with business goals. You will collaborate across Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Sales to deliver exceptional on‑time performance and scalable processes that support growth.

The role offers strategic influence, opportunities to shape supplier partnerships, and a pivotal impact on operational performance and future growth.