Summary
:
1. Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
2. Office based with local travel between sites as required
3. 33 days holiday per year
About the role
As a busy manufacturer producing a wide range of highly demanded products across our manufacturing sites in Cynwyd, Corwen, Deeside, Sandycroft and Boundary Park, we are looking for capable and effective individuals to deliver a top‑quality Purchasing service to the business.
As a Purchasing Professional at Ifor Williams Trailers, you will play a critical role in competitively sourcing engineering materials and key services from a global supply base, ensuring materials and services are delivered on time, to the right quality and at the right cost to support our fast‑moving assembly operations.
You will work collaboratively on site with Design Engineers and Manufacturing Managers, within a refocused and highly operational Purchasing team, and will be expected to take ownership of supplier performance and commercial outcomes that directly support our core business objectives.
More Details:
What you will be responsible for
4. Competitively sourcing specified engineering materials from a global supply base, aligned to technical and commercial requirements.
5. Competitively sourcing a range of services required to support the smooth operation of a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
6. Ensuring all specified supply parameters are clearly defined, contractually agreed and consistently delivered by suppliers to support assembly line requirements.
7. Negotiating commercial agreements that deliver strong cost, service and supply performance aligned to business objectives.
8. Managing material sources to ensure delivery to assembly lines on time, in full and at the right quality standard, whilst meeting business cost parameters.
9. Working closely with Design Engineers and Manufacturing Managers to ensure purchased materials and services meet technical and operational needs.
10. Acting rapidly and autonomously to resolve commercial or supply issues that may disrupt production or impact business objectives.
11. Supporting continuous improvement within the Purchasing function through better supplier performance, cost control and process discipline.
What we are looking for
12. Strong Purchasing experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
13. The ability to confidently communicate technical material and service requirements to a wide variety of suppliers.
14. Proven capability in supplier management to achieve delivery, quality and cost targets.
15. Commercially astute, with experience negotiating supplier agreements that deliver measurable business value.
16. The ability to act decisively and independently to resolve supply or commercial issues under pressure.
17. A collaborative mindset, comfortable working cross‑functionally within engineering, manufacturing and operations teams.
The behaviours that matter most
18. Ownership and accountability. You take responsibility for supplier performance and purchasing outcomes, acting decisively when issues arise.
19. Commercial mindset. You balance cost, quality and supply risk to deliver outcomes aligned to business objectives.
20. Speed and decisiveness. You act quickly to resolve problems that could impact production or customer delivery.
21. Clear communication. You engage confidently and professionally with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Continuous improvement focus. You look for better ways of working, strengthening supplier relationships and delivering sustained performance gains.
Why IWT
A family-owned business with the heritage and stability of a family firm and the scale and complexity to genuinely test a senior site leader. Founded in 1958, with five advanced manufacturing sites across North Wales, and with customers across the UK, Europe and beyond.
The role offers real breadth multi-line assembly, process-plant operations, finishing, people development and operational performance all under one site leader. North Wales is an outstanding place to live and work, with the coast and Eryri (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and Liverpool and Manchester just over an hour away.
We offer a competitive senior-leadership salary (details on application), pension, genuine investment in continuing professional development, and a leadership role with real authority and the resources to deliver against it.
How to apply
Send your CV and a one-page covering note what attracts you to this role, why you are applying, and what relevant experience you would bring to HR@iwt.co.uk
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a site visit and a multi-stage competency-based interview. We will be in touch with all applicants and thank you in advance for taking the time to apply.