Purchasing Manager
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Purchasing & Logistics Manager
Location: Greater Manchester
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-time
Salary: £45,000 – £55,000 DOE
About the Role
A rapidly growing technical services organisation is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Purchasing & Logistics Manager to oversee procurement, stock control, and logistics operations across the business.
This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring all materials, equipment, and consumables are cost-effective, available when needed, and sourced from reliable suppliers. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Projects, and Finance teams to deliver efficient and value-driven supply chain performance.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement & Cost Management
- Source materials, equipment, and services at the best value while maintaining quality
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and rebate opportunities
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships
- Monitor market trends to secure favourable pricing and availability
- Drive a “right place, right time, right price” procurement culture
Stock Control & Inventory Management
- Manage stock levels across warehouses, vans, and project allocations
- Forecast, optimise, and replenish stock based on operational demand
- Implement processes to reduce waste, ageing stock, and unnecessary spend
- Develop and maintain standardised product catalogues and stock lists
Logistics & Distribution
- Coordinate goods movement between suppliers, warehouses, and project sites
- Plan and optimise delivery schedules to minimise delays
- Manage courier partnerships and logistics frameworks
- Ensure compliance with all transport, storage, and safety regulations
Supplier & Stakeholder Communication
- Act as primary contact for suppliers and logistics partners
- Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure materials meet specification, budget, and timescales
- Provide procurement reports, KPI tracking, and cost-saving updates
Systems, Compliance & Documentation
- Maintain accurate procurement and stock data within ERP/CRM systems
- Ensure procurement activities meet company policies and industry standards
- Support audits, invoicing, and supplier reconciliation
- Lead improvement initiatives across supply chain processes
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management
- Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
- Solid understanding of stock control and logistics coordination
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and ERP/procurement systems
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines
Desirable
- Experience in fire & security, M&E, construction, or technical contracting sectors
- Knowledge of relevant product categories (e.g., fire equipment, security devices, electrical components)
- Experience implementing procurement frameworks or improvement initiatives
- Understanding of compliance and standards for technical products
Personal Attributes
- Commercially astute with a proactive, problem-solving mindset
- Strong communicator able to build internal and external relationships
- Process-driven, analytical, and methodical
- Confident decision maker with a collaborative approach
If you are keen to find out more, apply now or contact Adam Norris at Reed.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your procurement and supply chain management experience prominently as this is the core focus of the role
📊 Quantify your cost savings achievements: 'Negotiated supplier contracts reducing costs by 15%' or 'Managed £2M annual procurement budget'
🔧 Emphasise any fire & security, M&E, or construction sector experience as this is specifically mentioned as desirable
💻 Showcase your ERP system proficiency and Microsoft Office skills as these are essential for the role
🤝 Demonstrate your supplier relationship management abilities with concrete examples of partnerships you've built
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Negotiated supplier contracts for technical equipment reducing procurement costs by 18% across £1.2M annual spend
- •Implemented ERP-based stock control system managing inventory across 4 warehouses and 12 project sites, reducing stock-outs by 25%
- •Built strategic supplier partnerships in fire & security sector delivering 95% on-time delivery performance and £180k annual cost savings
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Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to apply for the Purchasing & Logistics Manager position at your rapidly growing technical services organisation in Greater Manchester. With proven experience in procurement and supply chain management, I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to drive cost-effective sourcing and build strong supplier relationships in a dynamic technical environment.
My background in procurement and logistics coordination has equipped me with the skills to manage complex supply chains, negotiate favourable terms, and implement efficient stock control processes. I have successfully worked with ERP systems and cross-functional teams to deliver value-driven procurement outcomes.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How do you approach supplier selection and evaluation for technical equipment?
- ›What ERP systems have you used for procurement and stock management?
- ›How do you forecast stock requirements and optimise inventory levels?
- ›Describe your experience with procurement frameworks and compliance standards
- ›How do you track and report on procurement KPIs and cost savings?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to negotiate a difficult contract with a supplier
- ›Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple urgent procurement deadlines
- ›Give an example of how you've improved a supply chain process
- ›Tell me about a time you had to resolve a supplier relationship issue
- ›Describe how you've worked with cross-functional teams to meet procurement objectives
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to negotiate a difficult contract with a supplier
Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple urgent procurement deadlines