Purchasing Manager

Direct Reports:

• Purchasing Office Assistant
• Materials & ERP Coordinator
• Any additional purchasing or materials roles as applicable

About Us:

Ormazabal UK Ltd is a leading provider of innovative electrical solutions, committed to delivering excellence in quality, health, safety, and environmental standards. As part of our continued growth, we are seeking a dedicated Purchasing Manager to join our team and support our mission of maintaining the highest standards across all operations.

Role Overview:

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the Purchasing function to ensure the timely, cost effective, and compliant procurement of goods and services required by the business. The role oversees supplier management, ERP driven purchasing activity, materials coordination, and supports efficient production flows. This position is accountable for developing purchasing strategy, improving processes, and managing the purchasing team's performance, ensuring alignment with UK operational, commercial, and audit expectations.

Key responsibilities:

• Leadership and Management:
  • Lead, coach, and develop the Purchasing team
  • Oversee workload allocation, training plans, performance reviews, and departmental KPIs
  • Ensure consistent and compliant use of company ERP systems (SAP)
  • Drive process improvement, standardisation, and documentation across purchasing and materials workflows
  • Maintain strong internal relationships with Production, Finance, Engineering, Service, and Warehouse teams
• Legal, Compliance, and Ethical Procurement:
  • Ensure all procurement activity complies with UK commercial, contractual, and regulatory requirements, including fair competition, anti bribery, and modern slavery
  • Oversee supplier compliance with relevant legislation (Modern Slavery Act 2015, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, UK GDPR, environmental regulations)
  • Ensure contracts, supplier agreements, and purchasing decisions comply with internal governance policies and UK legal frameworks
  • Maintain accurate audit trails in line with financial audit requirements and industry standards
  • Monitor legislative changes affecting procurement and advise senior management on required adjustments
  • Ensure ethical and sustainable purchasing practices aligned with ESG expectations and corporate responsibility frameworks
• Procurement and Supplier Management:
  • Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned to cost, quality, stock availability, and business continuity goals
  • Identify, onboard, and evaluate suppliers using structured supplier management processes
  • Lead contract negotiation, pricing reviews, and long term agreements
  • Monitor supplier performance and manage escalation of late deliveries, quality issues, and contractual non compliance
  • Ensure purchasing compliance with UK regulations, ISO standards, and internal policies
• Operational Purchasing Management:
  • Approve supplier quotations and ensure competitive pricing through market benchmarking
• Inventory, Stock and Production Support:
  • Support root cause analysis for stock discrepancies, late materials, or production delays
  • Oversee periodic stock takes, monthly cleanses (e.g., W8000), and general inventory governance
• Continuous Improvements and Projects:
  • Lead purchasing and materials improvement projects (stock control, supplier rationalisation, cost savings, ERP optimisation)
  • Support group level or international projects requiring purchasing or SAP inputs
  • Contribute to business reporting (KPIs, cost tracking, performance dashboards)

Skills, Experience and Qualifications: Essential

• Proven experience in a purchasing or supply chain management role
• Strong understanding of ERP systems (SAP preferred)
• Experience managing or supervising staff
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship management skills
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication skills across internal departments
• Strong understanding of UK procurement legislation and regulatory frameworks (contract law, Modern Slavery Act, anti bribery and corruption requirements)
• Working knowledge of UK GDPR requirements relating to supplier and customer data
• Understanding of health & safety and environmental obligations relevant to supplier selection and materials procurement

Desirable

• CIPS qualification (Level 4 or higher) or working toward
• Experience within a manufacturing, engineering, or technical production environment
• Experience working with BOMs, materials master data, and production planning
• Experience with international suppliers and contract agreements
• Experience managing supplier audits or compliance assessments
• Familiarity with ESG driven supply chain obligations (carbon reporting, sustainable procurement practices)

Benefits:

• 24 days holiday plus 8 UK bank holidays
• Free parking
• Bonus scheme
• Early finishes on Fridays
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension (6% employer contribution)
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
• Work From Home (1 day a week following successful completion of probation period)

Salary: £43,500-47,500

Inclusion, equity, and non discrimination are fundamental pillars of our culture. Our selection processes are conducted following transparency criteria, regardless of gender, racial origin, religion, political ideology, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability. We embrace and acknowledge the uniqueness of each of our future collaborators and value diversity in all its expressions.

Business Ormazabal Locations England - Merseyside Employment type Full-time