Senior Purchasing and Operations Manager

We are currently seeking a Senior Purchasing and Operations Manager to join a well-established, family-run SME based in Billingham. This key hands-on role is responsible for overseeing and optimising the end-to-end supply chain, including procurement, operations, production, and supplier relationships. It plays a crucial role in driving operational efficiency, cost savings, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality products and services strategies critical to supporting delivery of the 2030 business goals.

Key duties and responsibilities...

• Managing the procurement process and relationships with vendors to ensure the quality of goods, timely delivery, and compliance with terms of supplier agreements.
• Oversee negotiation with suppliers to maximise gross profit.
• Oversee inventory management, demand planning and supply planning to ensure service levels remain high while minimising stock holding.
• Oversee production, logistics, and distribution.
• Oversight of facilities and maintenance
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to the teams and lead by example ensuring that high professional standards are met, and values adhered to.
• With overall responsibility for supply chain, lead and develop the teams to deliver maximum efficiency and cost effectiveness, including:
  • Implementing actions to drive business success;

• Goal, target and KPI setting;

• Monitoring and maximising team and individual performance, taking actions to overcome barriers to success and providing support and guidance as required; and

• Building team and individual capability.

• As an active member of the SLT, contribute to the development of the business strategy and overall direction of the business, as well as help identify and remove barriers to successful achievement of strategic business goals.
• Responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of supply chain strategies to improve performance, reduce costs and support the achievement of business growth targets.
• Identifying potential risks in the supply chain and developing strategies to mitigate those risks.

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, procurement or similar or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience of working in SME environments (ideally with some exposure in a company with less than 50 people)
• Relevant experience in purchasing, production and operations in a leadership position
• Proven leadership skills working with multiple teams.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in supply chain software, ERP systems, WMS, MRP, Excel etc.
• Good understanding of their own leadership styles - strengths and weaknesses.
• Oracle NetSuite experience preferable but not essential.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills

Hours- 40 hours per week between 8am and 5pm (Flexi hours)
Monday- Friday
Salary- £60,000- £80,000 DOE
Profit share bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays