Purchasing Manager

Overview

In this role you will lead the purchasing function to secure materials and subcontract services, enabling on-time production and delivery. You will partner with local and wider operations and sales teams and report to the Supply and Demand Manager. The position offers a chance to shape processes and procedures as the defence business scales, with a hybrid work setup in Havant. You will drive supplier performance, develop the team, and contribute to strategic supply chain improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the operational purchasing team
• Coordinate site purchasing (direct, indirect, and sub-contractor spend)
• Review and place quotations and purchase orders on time
• Ensure suppliers deliver on time to meet demand and OTIF targets
• Monitor and report supply chain and purchasing performance
• Escalate supply chain issues and risks and create improvement plans
• Maintain supplier data (pricing, lead-times, EOQ/MOQ)
• Create and improve purchasing processes and procedures
• Provide proactive cross-team support and stakeholder engagement
• Coach and develop the purchasing team
• Build strong internal and external relationships

Key requirements

• L6 CIPS qualification or equivalent
• Ability to attain Security Clearance (SC)
• Experience leading a team of 4–5 purchasers/buyers
• Ability to mentor and develop team members
• Strong conflict resolution and problem ownership
• Experience allocating resources to sustain production from a procurement perspective
• Strong collaboration across internal and external supply chain
• Influence to resolve issues without escalation
• Good communication to own relationships
• Right to work in the UK and BPSS background checks

• leadership
• collaboration
• communication
• procurement planning and execution
• supplier relationship management
• demand management and OTIF

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