Supply Chain Manager - Global Sourcing & Procurement
Location: Ashford, Kent (Hybrid - 1 day WFH)
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Diamond Search Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced Supply Chain Manager to join their growing manufacturing business in Ashford, Kent.
Are you a commercially minded procurement professional with a passion for global sourcing, supplier development and securing the best possible deals?
This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of sourcing and supplier relationships within a growing manufacturing business.
Working closely with the Head of Supply Chain, you will play a key role in identifying new international suppliers, negotiating competitive pricing, developing supplier relationships and ensuring materials are sourced efficiently to support both large-scale manufacturing and new product development.
This is a hands-on position offering genuine autonomy, responsibility and the opportunity to make a measurable commercial impact.
The Role
You will take ownership of sourcing ingredients, excipients and packaging materials, ensuring the business has access to a competitive, reliable and diverse global supplier network.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Identifying, researching and developing new international suppliers.
- Managing the end-to-end supplier sourcing and onboarding process.
- Negotiating pricing, contracts, minimum order quantities and commercial terms.
- Sourcing ingredients and packaging materials for large-scale manufacturing requirements.
- Regularly benchmarking supplier pricing and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers worldwide.
- Securing competitive low-volume and sample quantities to support new product development.
- Working closely with production planning to ensure materials are available when required.
- Managing supplier documentation, specifications, certificates of analysis and compliance requirements.
- Monitoring supplier performance, including cost, quality, reliability and lead times.
- Maintaining accurate sourcing, supplier and pricing records.
- Identifying opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier management and digital systems.
About You
We are looking for a proactive and commercially astute procurement professional who enjoys finding new suppliers, negotiating better deals and building long-term international relationships.
You will be comfortable working independently, managing multiple sourcing projects and taking ownership of improving existing processes.
To be considered, you will have:
- Proven experience in purchasing, procurement or supply chain management.
- Demonstrable experience in global sourcing and identifying, assessing and onboarding international suppliers.
- A strong track record of commercial negotiation and cost reduction.
- Experience sourcing materials for manufacturing environments.
- The ability to manage multiple suppliers, quotations and purchasing requirements simultaneously.
- Strong supplier relationship management and communication skills.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Confidence working autonomously within a growing SME environment.
- Good IT skills and an interest in improving digital processes and systems.
Desirable experience:
- Background in ingredients.
- Experience in contract manufacturing.
- Knowledge of ingredients, excipients and packaging procurement.
- Experience negotiating low-volume, sample or product development purchasing arrangements.
What's on Offer?
- £45,000 salary.
- Permanent, full-time opportunity.
- Hybrid working, with up to one day per week from home.
- Monday to Friday working hours, 9:00am-5:00pm.
- The opportunity to take real ownership of global sourcing and procurement.
- Exposure to international suppliers and a growing global manufacturing operation.
- The chance to influence and improve procurement processes and digital systems.
- A varied, commercially focused role where your contribution will have a direct impact on business performance.
Diamond Search Recruitment is managing this recruitment process exclusively on behalf of our client. All applications will be treated confidentially
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