Procurement/Purchasing Manager
Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire (with travel to other IPN sites)
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
The Opportunity
We're excited to be recruiting for a Purchasing Manager to join Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN). Reporting into the Head of Procurement or Senior Purchasing Manager, this role will be instrumental in delivering group procurement strategies, securing the best combination of price, service, and quality for the business.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded procurement professional to influence multimillionpound spend, work across diverse categories, and help shape supplier strategies that directly impact our business performance.
The Company
At IPN, we're passionate about pet nutrition. We're an awardwinning, innovative FMCG manufacturer with a growing family of brands including Harringtons, Wagg, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, AATU, Blink, Butchers and Classic Cat.
We're proud to employ hundreds of colleagues across 3 different site locations in the UK - Thirsk, North Yorkshire; Crick, Northamptonshire; and Kinmel, Wales. Our heritage, values, and growth journey make us one of the UK's leading independent pet food businesses. Procurement is a critical part of how we ensure our brands deliver great value and quality to millions of pets and owners across the UK and beyond.
The Role
As Purchasing Manager, you'll be responsible for delivering purchasing workstreams and ensuring IPN has a sustainable supply of goods and services. You'll support commercial teams on inflation recovery, deliver purchasing insights, and negotiate supplier agreements that create competitive advantage.
Your remit will cover a broad spend portfolio (c. £10m - £75m) with the opportunity to manage and develop a small team.
Key Accountabilities
* Lead defined purchasing activities, ensuring sustainable supply at optimal cost.
* Support the business with inflation recovery, hedge strategies, and purchase price variance improvements.
* Negotiate and maintain supply agreements, rebates, and supplier contracts.
* Work closely with Supply Chain teams on inbound supply issues and nonconformance resolutions.
* Provide purchasing insights and timely decisions to support strategic updates.
* Manage and develop direct reports, setting objectives and supporting career progression.
What We're Looking For
* Degree calibre with strong knowledge of purchasing systems and processes.
* Proven negotiation skills and experience engaging global suppliers.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, able to influence at all levels.
* Background in food manufacturing or FMCG procurement desirable.
* Experience in procurement of Packaging and Indirects is strongly preferred.
* Team leadership or people management experience advantageous.
The Package
* Salary: Competitive
* Bonus: 15% annual company bonus scheme
* Hours: 37.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday
* Pension: Employee contributions 3% / Employer contributions 8% (salary sacrifice company pension scheme)
* Holidays: 25 days + bank holidays
* Life Assurance
* Enhanced leave policies - maternity, paternity, pawternity, pawreavement
* Perks: Free parking, onsite electric charging, bring your dog to work, discounted products & free hot drinks
* Flexible benefits - cycle to work, workplace nurseries, dental insurance (via salary sacrifice or pay deductions)
* Heavily discounted pet food
* Free Netflix/Spotify subscription
How to Apply
If you're a proactive and commercially driven procurement professional looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and join a fastgrowing, valuesled business making a real difference in the pet nutrition sector.
INDHP