Head of Purchasing

**Company**:
We are a family owned Midlands based engineering manufacturing specialist supplying high integrity machined parts, assemblies and fabrications to the nuclear, defence, aerospace and energy sectors.

It is important we continue to grow our business whilst retaining the family feel, living the Company values and developing our people ready for tomorrow’s challenges. In order to do this successfully each and every member of the SPE work family must know, understand and be accountable for their part to play towards the collective success of the business.

Investing in the latest technologies whist developing and rewarding our teams will enable us to continue our 40 year heritage as part of the UK’s critical supply chain. Everything SPE does either contributes directly to the defence of the British Isles, the energy markets of the world or the way we travel. Quality without compromise is the underpinning mantra of how we do business.

**Main Purpose**

“To Develop a Competitive, Sustainable and Engaged Supplier Base”

Responsible for the ongoing management of Purchasing Strategy and activity whilst ensuring optimal supplier performance and price. Develop and implement a Strategy to ensure the function is operating in line with business objectives to add value, mitigate supply chain risk and deliver cost savings. Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships and manage the development of contracts, contractual relationships and contract management to deliver continuous improvement in delivery of goods and services by the supply base. Lead and manage a team of Buyers to deliver the appropriate support to the business and ensure business development objectives are met. Work alongside the senior management team in contributing to overall business objectives.

To be responsible for the management and coaching of the Supply Chain Team and to ensure the maintenance of the company accreditations and standards.

Continually evaluating the process to ensure it meets the functional KPI targets and supports the business CSFs (Critical Success Factors) via the PDM cascade.

Managing the primary cost-down / control activities within the business.

Managing the day-to-day transactional activities in an effective manor continually looking for ways to improve the process.

**Key Responsibilities**
- **Strategy and Development**_
- Overall responsibility for Purchasing activities across the business
- Create and implement best practice purchasing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve business performance
- Ensure that purchasing strategies and processes are in place to meet business objectives and operational needs in terms of price, quality and delivery targets.
- Evaluate the challenges faced by the business and take action to mitigate risks and develop opportunities
- Contribute to overall business strategy and the annual budget process
- Take ownership of the purchasing policy, guidelines and any associated documents
- Initiate and develop creative and innovative procurement processes (eProcurement)
- Manage the Supply Chain Team and ensure they communicate professionally with customers, Suppliers and internal colleagues.
- Manage the PIP (Profit Improvement Programme) for the Team
- Target Continuous improvement activities in the Supply Chain operation and log all those raised and implemented
- Ensure all department procedures are adhered to, develop a tracking log of actions to be made visible to the General Manager for review purposes.
- Ensure that all Health and Safety, Quality and Environmental processes and legislation are adhered to.
- Maintain the functional skills matrix and work with HR on team development
- Direct, optimise and coordinate full order cycle
- Resolve any arising problems or complaints
- Supervise, coach, and train the team
- **General and Task Management**_
- Responsible for managing relationships and negotiating with key suppliers at a senior and strategic level
- Negotiate contract terms with key suppliers to ensure value for money, quality standards and delivery terms with technical and operational input from stakeholders if appropriate
- Craft negotiation strategies and close deals with optimal terms
- Forecast price and market trends to identify changes of balance in buyer / supplier power
- Seek and partner with reliable vendors and suppliers
- Develop an overall vendor base which creates and sustains a competitive advantage, leveraging spends and leveraging technologies
- Develop, implement and maintain a supplier relationship and evaluation process to measure effective supplier performance and compliance
- Ensure professional and consistent supplier management is applied across the supply base in line with the purchasing policy
- **People Management**_
- Coach, mentor and develop direct reports and manage a high performing team that delivers continuous improvement, added value and cost reductions
- Set department objectives and m