Purchasing Manager

• Location: Sutton, Surrey
• Salary: Circa £45,000 – £50,000 + Benefits
• Job Type: Full-time (4 days in office, 1 day working from home)

Join a leading FMCG and distribution company as a Purchasing Manager at its UK head office in Sutton, Surrey. This pivotal role will support continued growth by managing supplier relationships across the UK, Europe, Asia, and Africa, covering the full purchasing lifecycle.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Oversee all purchasing activities, including ordering, stock control, and maintaining data accuracy.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with international suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor supplier performance, resolving any delivery or quality issues promptly.
• Plan and schedule orders and production in alignment with sales forecasts.
• Manage risks within the supply chain to ensure continuity of supply.
• Monitor inventory levels to minimise obsolete stock and support audits and stock takes.
• Source new products and identify potential new supplier opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with planning, operations, finance, and other internal teams to enhance purchasing efficiency.
• Produce regular purchasing and performance reports for management review.
• Drive continuous improvement across purchasing and supply chain processes.
• Manage day-to-day order placement and delivery schedules.
• Undertake occasional supplier and warehouse visits to ensure standards are maintained.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a Purchasing or Procurement Manager role within the FMCG sector or similar fast-moving environments.
• Strong background in international sourcing and managing global supply chains.
• Confident negotiator with excellent commercial awareness.
• Exceptional numerical, analytical, and reporting skills.
• Experience in budgeting and forecasting.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and accurate.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Benefits:

• Competitive pension scheme.
• Private healthcare.
• Employee assistance scheme.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Free on-site parking.