Group Procurement Leader
Location: Fairford, Gloucestershire
Salary & Benefits: Base salary of c£35-40K will be negotiable for a strong candidate, plus additional benefits to make an attractive package

Headline

High potential purchasing professional required, capable of leading Strategic Procurement initiatives for an expanding group of companies across two sites in SW and NE England, as well as Malaysia. The Group are Tier 1 suppliers to OEM's within the bus, coach and rail industries, with a product portfolio of electronic assemblies, lighting systems and interior panelling products.  Total sales are around £11M, but the board are committed to tripling sales over the next 6 years.  The successful candidate will have the ambition and potential to grow in this role and to assume increasing responsibility as the company grows.

Role

To formulate the Group Procurement Plan with the Group Operations Director, developing targets, timetables, and metrics.  To execute the plan, taking personal responsibility for the reduction of BOM costs through appropriate sourcing strategies, assertive price negotiation and optimising economies of scale.  The leader will manage the procurement managers in each of the manufacturing facilities, working with them to deliver the Group Procurement Plan.  Supplier development is vital to the position, implementing supply agreements and establishing performance metrics.  The ability to work effectively with the Group's Engineers is crucial, in order to deliver cost reductions of existing products and to ensure that effective procurement plans are in place for the group's NPI activity.

Requirements

• Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably also with some engineering experience and the ability to read engineering drawing,
• Experience of purchasing electronics/plastics/engineered parts
• Experience of managing other buyers, or the ambition and personal qualities to assume a first leadership role
• The ability to travel frequently within and outside the UK
• Personal experience of switching to/sourcing from low-cost countries
• Experience of skilful negotiating to reduce costs while maintaining mutually beneficial long-term supplier relationships
• Experience of creating supply agreements
• Experience of establishing and using supplier performance measures
• CIPD qualification or formal purchasing training in a company of recognised standing. An additional technical qualification would be a strong advantage.
• A strong work ethic, and yet a personality that combines friendliness and good humour with strength of character in the conduct of professional relationships - a team player who is not afraid of demanding results