Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Manager – Manufacturing Location: Hertford Salary: Up to £45,000 (DOE) + excellent employee benefits Employment Type: Full‑Time, Permanent An established manufacturing business in Hertford is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead its procurement function and oversee a small, high‑performing team. This is a key role for someone with strong knowledge of raw materials, engineering supply chains, and the ability to deliver exceptional service to key customers. You will take ownership of purchasing strategy, supplier performance, and material availability, ensuring the business maintains a reliable, cost‑effective supply chain that supports production and customer commitments. Key Responsibilities * Lead and develop a small purchasing team, ensuring high performance and effective workload management. * Manage the procurement of raw materials, engineered components, and manufacturing consumables, ensuring best value and supplier reliability. * Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, terms, and long‑term agreements. * Ensure material availability aligns with production schedules and customer delivery expectations. * Oversee supplier performance, quality, and delivery accuracy, implementing corrective actions where required. * Work closely with production, engineering, and planning teams to support operational efficiency. * Maintain accurate purchasing data, lead times, and cost information within the ERP system. * Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain. * Act as a key point of contact for major customers, ensuring they receive excellent levels of service and communication. * Contribute to strategic procurement planning and cost‑reduction initiatives. About You You will be an experienced Purchasing Manager with a strong understanding of manufacturing or engineering environments, confident in leading a team and managing a diverse supplier base. You will bring a proactive, commercially focused approach and the ability to influence both suppliers and internal stakeholders. Essential Skills & Experience * Proven experience as a Purchasing Manager within manufacturing, engineering, or industrial production. * Strong knowledge of raw materials used in manufacturing (e.g., metals, plastics, components). * Experience leading or mentoring a small team. * Excellent supplier negotiation and relationship‑management skills. * Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production requirements. * Ability to deliver high levels of service to key customers and internal teams. * Good working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems. * Ideally CIPS qualified or working towards it. * Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills. Benefits * Salary up to £45,000 * Excellent employee benefits package * Opportunity to shape and develop the purchasing function * Stable, supportive manufacturing environment * Long‑term career progression potential