Purchasing Manager- Cork

FRS Recruitment; Cork; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

FRS Recruitment’s client, a leading Industrial Supplies Distributor near Cork, seeks a Purchasing Manager to lead a small but capable buyers team, shape procurement strategy and manage category budgets.

You will oversee supplier performance, drive cost reductions, optimise inventory, and collaborate across functions to ensure on-time, in-full availability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business or related field.
• Strong commercial acumen with 3+ years in Senior Purchasing/Procurement.
• Solid analytical skills and ability to interpret data and trends.
• Strong communication and leadership capabilities.
• Experience with ERP systems and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategy aligned to category goals.
• Manage portfolio, inventory, and supplier relationships to ensure availability.
• Negotiate terms, bids, and cost optimisations to maximise profitability.
• Monitor market dynamics and drive continuous procurement improvements.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to meet procurement requirements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Excel

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Business

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description

My client, a leading Industrial Supplies Distributor based on the outskirts of Cork City, is seeking a Purchasing Manager to join their team. Working within the senior management team and overseeing a team of Buyers, you will be responsible for overseeing the category Procurement budget, implementing and streamlining processes, sourcing new suppliers and any other duties as required for the department. This is a fantastic opportunity for a Purchasing Manager to grow on their career in a thriving organization. This would suit a candidate who has a background in Construction, Industrial Manufacturing or Plumbing and has a proven track record of success in Procurement.

The responsibilities for the Purchasing Manager include but are not limited to:

• Support the head-of-department by assisting in the development and implementation of Procurement Strategy, aligned to the overall Category Strategy Monitor market dynamics, industry developments, competitive landscape, emerging technologies, to identify opportunities, inform procurement decisions, mitigate risks.
• Manage product ranges within the portfolio, a competitive & innovative assortment.
• Manage internal procurement processes (sales history, forecasting demand, purchase requisitions, stock purchase orders, stock transfers) as well as supply-chain considerations (capacity, constraints, lead times, delivery schedules) - to ensure material requirements are met 'on time & in full'.
• Optimise inventory levels to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.
• Negotiate terms & conditions, price, request for proposals (RFP's), request for quotation (RFQ's), bid evaluations, delivery charge - to ensure optimal product cost.
• Leverage market insight, understand competitiveness (price index), take on board sales team feedback, implement price management strategies to maximise profitability and competitiveness & optimise margin.
• Utilise data-driven insights to track portfolio performance against target (sales, cost, margin, service, stock) and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with suppliers, build relationships.
• Drive availability, innovation, lowest cost & drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with suppliers, build relationships to deliver customer-centric initiatives and drive profitable growth.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to understand requirements of the procurement function & drive portfolio success.

The qualifications for the desired Purchasing Manager include:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business or related field
• Strong commercial acumen, with proven experience at Senior Purchasing Management level (+3 years), preferably within wholesale or retail industries, preferably in the Irish market.
• Solid analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and market trends, translate into insight to facilitate informed commercial decisions.
• Strong communication, engagement & presentation skills.
• Ability to engage stakeholders & influence positive outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, and experience with purchasing platforms and ERP systems.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Strong leadership skills with proven people management experience.
• Work as part of team to enhance production performance and minimise risks.
• Attention to detail in completing tasks in a proficient and timely manner.
• Hardworking and reliable