Purchasing Manager, FMCG

A fast-scaling FMCG consumer goods business, operating across major retail and wholesale channels globally, is seeking a Purchasing Manager to take ownership of sourcing strategy, supplier performance and commercial delivery as it continues its growth trajectory. This is a senior, commercially focused purchasing role rather than a purely operational buying position. The individual will be expected to drive margin improvement, lead complex supplier negotiations at scale, and build a resilient, cost-effective and future-ready supply base suited to high-volume FMCG environments. The role requires someone who can operate at pace, take full ownership of outcomes, and act as a key commercial partner across product, sales and operations., Sourcing Strategy & Supplier Management

• Develop and implement a scalable sourcing strategy aligned to volume growth, margin improvement and speed to market
• Build, manage and optimise a diverse global supplier base suitable for high-volume retail and wholesale supply chains
• Lead complex tenders and strategic sourcing decisions end-to-end, ensuring commercial robustness and delivery capability
• Shift supplier relationships from transactional to long-term strategic partnerships focused on performance, cost and reliability
• Identify opportunities for supply chain simplification, consolidation and efficiency gains
Commercial Ownership & Margin Delivery
• Own supplier commercial negotiations including pricing, cost structures, rebates and contractual terms
• Drive measurable margin improvement through proactive cost control and supplier challenge
• Provide clear visibility of cost drivers, risks and commercial opportunities to senior stakeholders
• Support budgeting, forecasting and pricing decisions with accurate and insight-led cost modelling
• Take full accountability for commercial performance across the relevant category or supply base
Tender, Bid & Project Leadership
• Lead commercial input into large-scale tenders, bids and cross-functional business proposals
• Own sourcing decisions end-to-end rather than operating in a support capacity
• Partner with sales, product and operations teams to ensure proposals are commercially viable, competitive and deliverable
• Review commercial outcomes and refine sourcing and negotiation approaches to improve future performance
Supply Chain Insight & Risk Management
• Monitor FMCG market dynamics, commodity pressures and global supply chain risks
• Anticipate disruption and implement contingency planning, including dual-sourcing strategies where required
• Identify new suppliers, materials and production innovations to enhance cost efficiency and resilience
• Reduce reliance on single-source suppliers or regions through proactive diversification
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
• Manage and develop a small purchasing team, setting clear expectations and driving accountability
• Operate as a hands-on leader with full ownership rather than a purely supervisory management style
• Act as a key commercial partner to product development, sales and operations teams
• Influence stakeholders at all levels with strong commercial rationale and clear communication
Responsible Sourcing & Continuous Improvement
• Promote ethical, responsible and sustainable sourcing practices across the supplier base
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier management and negotiation strategy
• Encourage innovation that improves cost efficiency, scalability and environmental performance
  
  Strong purchasing, procurement or sourcing experience within FMCG, consumer goods or high-volume retail/wholesale environments
• Proven experience leading large-scale tenders, supplier negotiations or category ownership
• A strong commercial mindset with demonstrable impact on margin, cost control and supplier performance
• Confident negotiation skills with experience managing complex, global supplier relationships
• A hands-on approach with full ownership of outcomes rather than reliance on close supervision
• Experience managing or mentoring a small team
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence internally and externally
• A proactive, ambitious and high-urgency working style suited to fast-paced environments
• Strong analytical capability and attention to detail, with sound commercial judgement
What will not be suitable:
• Candidates with a purely operational or process-driven procurement background
• Individuals who support tenders rather than owning and leading them
• Those who prefer structured, closely directed environments
• Candidates lacking pace, urgency or comfort operating at scale
• Retail buyers without strong FMCG, wholesale or high-volume commercial experience
  
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