Purchasing Lead

Excellent Purchasing Lead Opportunity! Hybrid!    Harrogate office location.    This is a first-class Purchasing Lead position; The Purchasing Manager is responsible for executing the procurement strategy across one of my clients  divisions, ensuring cost-effective, reliable and high-quality supply of all products including plants, trees, landscaping materials and associated goods. This role plays a critical part in delivering margin improvement, supplier performance, and stock availability across a multi-site operation. Working closely with Supply Chain, Planning and Category Management teams, the Purchasing Manager ensures that procurement activity is aligned to demand, seasonality and divisional growth objectives. WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU? Annual base Salary – Highly competitive – Depending on experience Hybrid – 3 days office, 2 days from home Office Location – Harrogate area 1 direct report Monday to Friday working hours 33 days holiday leave, inclusive of bank holidays. Upwardly mobile business encountering consistent growth, a market leader within their niche. Permanent position from day one A clear voice within the business. Extremely positive culture Ongoing continuous investment within the business! Business is a hugely recognised and respected PLC. THE BUSINESS   Our client specialises within the Agricultural & Horticultural sectors, they are a true market leader within their niche. THE ROLE Source and procure products across key categories (e.g. plants, trees, aggregates, landscaping materials) Place and manage purchase orders in line with demand plans and stock policies Ensure continuity of supply across all sites, particularly during peak seasonal periods Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers including growers, nurseries and manufacturers Monitor supplier performance across cost, quality, service and reliability Support contract negotiations and pricing reviews Proactively identify and mitigate supply risks (weather, seasonality, availability, pricing volatility) Deliver cost savings and cost avoidance initiatives Track and manage purchase price variance (PPV) Support margin improvement through effective sourcing and range optimisation Challenge pricing, minimum order quantities and commercial terms Work closely with the Planning function to align purchasing with forecasts Ensure stock is ordered in line with agreed stock policies and working capital targets Support reduction of excess, obsolete and slow-moving stock Manage lead times and order cycles to optimise stock availability Partner with Site Managers and Warehouse teams to ensure smooth inbound flow of goods Work closely with Sales and Customer Service teams to support availability and customer commitments Collaborate with Logistics on inbound freight planning and efficiency Support new product introductions and range changes Ensure accurate and timely processing of purchase orders within ERP systems Maintain data integrity (pricing, supplier records, lead times, MOQ, etc.) Follow and enforce procurement processes and governance standards Support continuous improvement of purchasing processes and systems Support sustainable sourcing initiatives aligned to divisional and group ESG goals Promote responsible supplier practices and traceability where applicable Contribute to reduction of waste and environmental impact in the supply chain THE PERSON Proven experience in a purchasing or procurement role within a multi-site or distribution environment Strong supplier management and negotiation skills Driving licence is essential Experience working with seasonal, perishable or demand-variable products (highly desirable) Commercially astute with a strong focus on cost and margin Experience using ERP systems for purchasing and inventory management Strong analytical capability and attention to detail Ability to operate at pace and manage competing priorities Exposure to demand planning or S&OP processes Understanding of logistics and inbound freight considerations    DESIRABLE Experience in landscaping, horticulture, agriculture, materials or Merchant Sectors. Experience working with growers, nurseries or import supply chains    TO APPLY Please apply for this position and your CV will go direct to Kyle Jevons at Westray Recruitment Group