Procurement Manager

Business:         Originally founded as Prosper De Mulder Limited in 1926; SARIA Ltd is now part of The SARIA Group, headquartered in Selm (Germany), which employs around 9,000 people at 190 locations across 25 countries.  The UK operations have a market-leading presence in a wide range of sectors associated with the food chain. The Group’s companies manufacture quality products for use in human and animal foodstuffs, agriculture, aquaculture, and industrial applications. The company has a UK annual turnover approaching £280 million and employs around 1,000 people at 23 sites across the country.

We are looking to appoint a self-motivated, strategically minded Procurement Manager with an innovative approach to achieve business objectives. The successful candidate will need to have strong communication and negotiating skills, along with a pro-active mindset to take responsibility for coordinating and sourcing equipment, goods and services for SARIA Ltd, in the most cost-effective way, ensuring high quality and customer service from suppliers.   

Proven experience as a Purchasing Manager in a large Industrial Environment is essential, as well as a thorough understanding of the procurement principles. This role will be undertaken in Liaison with the SARIA Ltd, Group Head Office procurement function in Germany.

The Position

• Initially to gain an in depth understanding of the business and to build solid working relationships with relevant managers in the UK and the  Group Head Office procurement team in Germany.

• Coordinate purchasing across all UK sites, ensuring that costs are controlled, and efficiencies achieved.  
• Develop, lead and execute purchasing strategies on a Group level, obtaining sign off from key stakeholders.
• Undertake price negotiations at Group Level for the UK.
• Track and report key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness.
• Instill best practice purchasing skills to non-purchasing staff to encourage professional purchasing throughout the business.
• Work with the appropriate stakeholders to standardise purchasing specifications and processes across all site locations in the UK.
• To effectively negotiate prices, contracts, conduct tenders and bench-marking exercises in line with departmental policy and procedures.
• To formulate, agree and maintain commercial terms and conditions, service levels and supply agreements using standard templates where possible.
• To develop category and supplier catalogues, ensuring contracts and price file data are in place, maintained and all commercially sensitive information is correctly retained.
• To project manage the implementation of any agreed strategies, contracts or processes and ultimately become the company point of contact for all operational issues relating to Facilities Management.
• To conduct regular supplier reviews / audits and address any supplier performance issues using supplier management and improvement techniques.
• To identify, coordinate and drive continuous improvement projects both internally and with the suppliers.
• Understand and react to business needs across all UK sites.
• Manage and monitor supplier relationships.
• Liaise with Group purchasing personnel in Germany to establish sourcing strategies and group synergies.
• Support site management in relation to stock control.

The Person

• University Degree in Business, Economics or Industrial Engineering, preferably specialising in procurement or equivalent.
• A good understanding and knowledge of procurement strategies.
• Experience of negotiating high value supplier contracts and familiarity with sourcing and vendor management.
• Proven conceptual and analytical skills.
• Strong organisational skills, inclusive of an ability to multi-task various projects and achieve deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a confident manner and the ability to communicate at all levels.
• Highly motivated with the drive to identify and achieve efficiencies and cost savings throughout the Company.

• Strong assertiveness and professional negotiating skills. 
• An aptitude, willingness and motivation to learn.
• Able to travel, when needed.