About The Role
Job Purpose: Working collaboratively with the Head of Supply Chain and the wider Operations team, the Operational Purchasing Manager will lead and manage the Operational Purchasing Department, with the aim of ensuring we meet or exceed the expectations of our customers in terms of delivery, cost and quality.
The Operational Purchasing Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing the Procurement Strategy, ensuring it aligns with the Supply Chain and Business Level strategies. As the position will have a significant impact upon project delivery, the Operational Purchasing Manager will also play an active role in defining, implementing and measuring key metrics that show measured improvements within the department, as well as across contributing to the definition of metrics for other functional areas that have a direct impact on the Operational Purchasing teams objectives.
Please note, this job description is not exhaustive as other duties may be required to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Key Responsibilities
* Monitors performance metrics and uses evidence to make data driven decisions, reducing waste and operational costs, increases operational efficiency and productivity.
* Structure, lead and manage the operational purchasing team both operationally, ensuring that CDE Cultural Values are embedded.
* Ability to deliver results that align with organisational strategy, drive operational excellence and contribute to financial and performance goals.
* Manage supplier relationships and opportunities for cost-out and product/supplier improvement, while ensuring production, delivery, and capacity requirements across all direct material categories.
* Identify, implement and measure KPIs that ensure the Operational purchasing team objectives and business objectives are met or exceeded.
* Leads team to reduce tail spend costs and improves turnaround times. Analyses any problems faced, identifying when further investigation or analysis is required.
* Provide a framework for conducting supplier performance appraisals in line with ISO9001
* Develop processes and procedures for ensuring that operational purchasing activity is completed efficiently and in line with the departmental strategy and business needs.
* Develop strong and collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, including supporting the development of other departmental strategies (stock management, OTD, cost saving initiatives, etc.).
* In line with CDE’s performance management policy, conduct performance appraisals, competency assessments and prepare development plans for all direct reports.
* Actively identify opportunities for continuous improvement both within the procurement department as well as within the wider business.
Other
* To adhere to CDE policy and practice.
* To carry out any other duties within reason and capability associated with this role.
Skills Needed
About The Company
WE ARE CDE. ENGINEERED FOR YOU We empower our customers to transform waste into valuable resources through innovative co-creation, laying the foundations for the circular economy. We help our customers maximise their natural resources in the most sustainable way possible – with greater efficiency and less waste than ever before. Our unparalleled speed and scale are down to our proximity to our customers and our deep understanding of their challenges. Our track record of proven solutions consistently meets our customers’ needs precisely, operating in challenging environments from the Arctic to the Equator. Wet processing is our sole focus – our experience and expertise is unmatched in this field. Every day, in everything we do, we strive to do it right. We want to be the best at what we do and deliver the maximum benefit for our customers. We pull together, as a team, in pursuit of this common cause. Our “Customer for Life” mentality fortifies each of our projects, with CDE engineers delivering continuous, limitless support.
Company Culture
We recognise that it is our people that have established CDE as market leader in developing solutions for the wet processing industry both within natural materials processing and waste recycling sectors. OUR PURPOSE IS TO CREATE OUR BEST WORLD, A TON AT A TIME. To do that, we must continue to build our global team by adding the most ambitious, driven and talented people. We will challenge you, elevate you and broaden your horizons. We will help you to be the best you can be both personally and professionally. We are renowned for our energy and can do attitude…. and at times seemingly delivering the impossible. We also know that all the will in the world won’t take us anywhere unless we work together. And we like to have fun together - life’s too short and we spend most of it at work. If we lose the power to laugh, we lose the power to think. We will continue to add the most dynamic, ambitious and talented individuals to the CDE team.
Required Criteria
* Have a high level of understanding of Operational Purchasing within a global business.
* Have a minimum of a third level education in supply chain, business or related technical field.
* Have a minimum of 5 years procurement experience within the Engineering/materials handling industry.
* Have excellent communication skills
* Have a passion for purchasing and continuous improvement
* Have excellent negotiation and influencing skills
* Be able to thrive in a high paced, fast turnaround business
* Be positive, motivated, ambitious, proactive, with a "can do" attitude
* Have experience of using an ERP system
Desired Criteria
* Experience in the Engineering / materials handling industry
* IFS experience
* APICS Certification/ CIPS
Closing Date Friday 6th February, 2026
Contract Type fulltime
Salary Based on Experience
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