Supply Chain Manager

Eaton Syalon Ltd; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Syalon Ltd in Cardiff is recruiting a Supply Chain Manager to own procurement and supply chain activities, developing stronger supplier relationships and improving commercial terms.

Initially hands-on with day-to-day purchasing, you will also shape future strategy, governance and processes, and support recruitment and development of a new Buyer as the function grows.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in procurement, purchasing or supply chain.
• Strong supplier management and commercial negotiation experience.
• Understanding of procurement governance, controls and compliance.
• Strong commercial awareness to improve pricing and terms.

Responsibilities

• Own procurement and supply chain activities across the business.
• Review supplier base and strengthen relationships.
• Negotiate pricing and longer-term agreements with key suppliers.
• Develop a focused network of preferred suppliers.
• Improve procurement processes and governance.
• Ensure supplier approvals per internal procedures.
• Support compliance with quality management systems.
• Communicate purchasing needs with internal stakeholders.
• Help shape future team structure and recruit a Buyer.

Skills

Supplier management

Commercial negotiation

Stakeholder management

Procurement governance

Strategic thinking

Job description

Eaton Syalon are exclusively partnering with an established and growing organisation in South Wales to recruit a Supply Chain Manager into a key role within the business.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced procurement or supply chain professional who is ready to take greater ownership and make a genuine impact.

Rather than stepping into a heavily established function where everything is already set in stone, you will have the opportunity to review how things are currently done, bring your own ideas and help shape the future procurement and supply chain strategy.

Experience within the engineering, manufacturing, energy, utilities, industrial or wider technical services sectors would be advantageous, although we are equally interested in strong procurement professionals from other relevant environments who can demonstrate transferable experience.

The Role

As Supply Chain Manager, you will take ownership of procurement and supply chain activity, with a particular focus on developing stronger supplier relationships, improving commercial terms and creating a more structured and effective supplier base.

Initially, this will be a hands‑on position, so you will need to be comfortable getting involved in day‑to‑day purchasing activity while also looking at the bigger picture and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Taking ownership of procurement and supply chain activity across the business.
• Reviewing the existing supplier base and identifying opportunities to consolidate and strengthen supplier relationships.
• Negotiating pricing, commercial terms and longer‑term agreements with key suppliers.
• Using purchasing volumes and supplier relationships to achieve greater commercial value.
• Developing and managing a focused network of preferred suppliers.
• Improving procurement processes, controls and overall governance.
• Ensuring suppliers are appropriately approved and managed in line with internal procedures.
• Supporting compliance with established quality and management systems.
• Reviewing purchasing activity and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and commercial performance.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders to understand current and future purchasing requirements.
• Taking a hands‑on approach to purchasing activity while the function continues to develop.
• Helping to shape the future structure of the team, including supporting the recruitment and development of an additional Buyer.

About You

We are looking for someone with a strong grounding in procurement and supply chain who is excited by the opportunity to take ownership rather than simply maintain an existing function.

You are likely to have:

• Significant experience within procurement, purchasing or supply chain.
• Strong supplier management and commercial negotiation experience.
• Experience reviewing supplier bases and developing preferred supplier relationships.
• A good understanding of procurement governance, controls and compliance.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify opportunities to improve pricing and supplier terms.
• The confidence to challenge existing processes and introduce new ideas.
• The ability to balance strategic improvement projects with hands‑on purchasing requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A proactive, organised and solutions‑focused approach.

You may currently be operating as a Senior Buyer, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Manager, Supply Chain Manager or Senior Procurement Specialist and looking for an opportunity that offers greater ownership and progression.

This is a full‑time, office‑based position in the Cardiff area. The office is easily accessible from Cardiff, Pontypridd, Caerphilly and the surrounding South Wales area.