Procurement Manager

Location: Hybrid / Tadcaster LS24, UK

Job type: Permanent / Full-time

Sector and subsector: Operations | Engineering Services

Salary: Negotiable salary

The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading all sourcing and purchasing activities within a highly innovative, first‑of‑a‑kind (FOAK) machine automation environment. The role ensures the timely and cost‑effective procurement of bespoke components, engineered systems, and specialist services to support complex builds, prototyping, and project delivery.

The role requires a strong commercial mindset combined with technical understanding, agility, and the ability to operate in a fast‑paced, evolving engineering environment. It also leverages global sourcing opportunities, including trade agreements and duty optimisation strategies, to enhance cost competitiveness and supply chain efficiency.

• Deliver procurement strategies aligned to low‑volume, high‑complexity machine builds
• Source and manage suppliers for bespoke and long lead‑time components globally
• Support engineering and project teams through design, prototyping, and build phases
• Lead commercial negotiations ensuring best value and flexibility
• Oversee expediting to ensure alignment with project schedules
• Drive standardisation and maturity of procurement processes, tools, and governance
• Build and maintain a global, diversified supplier network to reduce risk and dependency
• Support make vs buy and strategic sourcing decisions in collaboration with stakeholders
• Embed total cost of ownership (TCO) and value‑based decision making across the function
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through global sourcing, value engineering, and supplier innovation
• Optimise total landed cost, including tariffs, duties, and logistics
• Proactively leverage international trade agreements and origin strategies
• Deliver measurable savings and cost avoidance aligned to business targets
• Identify and mitigate risks across supply continuity, geopolitical exposure, and supplier capability
• Develop sourcing and continuity strategies for critical components
• Enhance supply chain visibility and risk monitoring capability
• Ensure compliance with rules of origin and trade requirements
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships focused on innovation, flexibility, and performance
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and project teams
• Influence stakeholders to align sourcing decisions with business strategy
• Lead, mentor, and develop the procurement team
• Build capability in strategic sourcing, cost modelling, and global procurement practices
• Drive a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, delivery, and continuous improvement

• On‑time delivery of materials aligned to project milestones
• Delivery of procurement strategy aligned to business growth and complexity
• Demonstrable cost savings and value creation (including tariff optimisation)
• Improved supplier performance and strategic supplier partnerships
• Reduced supply chain risk and improved resilience
• Implementation of scalable procurement processes and governance
• Enhanced visibility of procurement performance through KPIs and reporting

• Strong procurement experience in engineering, automation, or capital equipment
• Experience with bespoke, low‑volume, high‑value components
• Proven experience in developing procurement strategy and driving transformation
• Global sourcing and supplier management experience
• Strong understanding of total landed cost and TCO models
• Proven commercial negotiation and contract management skills
• Experience managing supply chain risk in complex project environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement across technical and operational teams
• Experience implementing category management or strategic sourcing frameworks
• Knowledge of trade agreements, origin compliance, and tariff optimisation
• Experience in FOAK or highly innovative engineering environments
• Exposure to digital procurement tools or ERP systems transformation

• Strong commercial and analytical skills
• Procurement systems and tools experience
• Understanding of supply chain and logistics processes
• Advanced negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong analytical and financial modelling capability (cost breakdowns, TCO, should‑cost)
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• CIPS qualification or equivalent
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Visual etc.)
• Knowledge of supply chain analytics and KPI dashboards
• Familiarity with contract law and commercial terms
• Experience in supplier development and value engineering methodologies

Relationship and Reporting Line

Direct Reports (if applicable):
Buyers

Working relationships with:
Project Engineers, Engineering, Production, Finance, Service, Programme Managers