Operational Purchasing Manager
📍 Wolverhampton (with travel to Midlands sites)
💰 £55,000 - £60,000 + Benefits
🏭 Manufacturing / Engineering
The Opportunity
We are partnering with a well-established, multi-site engineering manufacturer based in the Midlands, known for quality, stability, and long-term investment in its people and operations. As the business continues to strengthen its supply chain capability, they are looking to appoint an Operational Purchasing Manager to play a key role in supporting performance and future growth.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys being close to day-to-day purchasing activity while also improving processes, developing teams, and building strong supplier relationships. The business offers a supportive, professional environment with genuine scope to develop and progress.
The Role
Reporting into senior leadership, you will be responsible for operational purchasing, supplier performance, and inbound supply activities across multiple sites, ensuring materials and services are delivered on time, to specification, and at optimal cost.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading and developing Purchasing and Goods Inwards teams
* Owning day-to-day purchasing activity, supplier communication, and delivery performance
* Managing MRP-driven requirements to support production and customer demand
* Overseeing stock control, inbound logistics, and inventory optimisation
* Monitoring KPIs and driving continuous improvement
* Working with internal systems teams to improve processes and ways of working
Supplier & Sourcing Focus
* Managing supplier performance across quality, cost, and delivery
* Supporting cost control, savings initiatives, and risk mitigation
* Leading sourcing activity for new products and components
* Working closely with Engineering and Commercial teams
* Negotiating and managing supplier agreements
About You
* Proven experience in an operational purchasing or procurement management role
* Background within a manufacturing or engineering environment
* Strong working knowledge of MRP systems and supplier management
* Confident, pragmatic communicator with strong negotiation skills
* Comfortable balancing hands-on delivery with leadership and improvement activity
Qualifications
* Degree-level qualification preferred
* CIPS qualification advantageous
Why Apply?
* Salary £55,000 - £60,000 + benefits
* A visible, influential role within a stable, growing manufacturing business
* Supportive leadership and a positive, professional working environment
* Opportunity to develop capability, improve systems, and shape the role
* Long-term career prospects within an engineering-led organisation