Strategic Sourcing Manager

MCS Group

MCS Group is working with a growing international technology business as they look to appoint an experienced Strategic Sourcing Manager to play a key role within their global operations function.

This is a newly created position offering significant responsibility across strategic sourcing, supplier management, procurement and contract manufacturing. The successful candidate will take ownership of key supplier relationships, drive commercial improvements across the supply chain and work closely with engineering, operations and product teams as the business continues to scale.

The Role

You will manage a global supplier and manufacturing network, working across both existing products and new product introduction.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and managing strategic relationships with key suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Leading commercial negotiations around pricing, contracts, lead times and supplier performance.
• Identifying cost reduction and margin improvement opportunities across the supply chain.
• Developing alternative sourcing strategies and reducing reliance on individual suppliers.
• Supporting engineering and product teams with sourcing activity for new product development.
• Managing the sourcing of electronic components and associated manufactured products.
• Working closely with suppliers to improve quality, availability and overall commercial performance.
• Identifying supply chain risks and putting appropriate contingency plans in place.
• Challenging suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and remove delivery roadblocks.
• Leading and developing a small purchasing team.
• Visiting key international suppliers and manufacturing partners when required.

The Person

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who have:

• Strong experience within strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain management.
• Experience working within an electronics, technology, engineering or manufacturing environment.
• A good understanding of contract manufacturing and global supplier relationships.
• Strong commercial negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Experience sourcing electronic components would be particularly advantageous.
• Exposure to new product introduction or working closely with engineering teams.
• The ability to identify alternative suppliers and commercially challenge an existing supply chain.
• Experience managing significant supplier spend.
• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence working across different cultures and geographies.
• Previous people management experience.

This would particularly suit someone who enjoys being commercially hands-on rather than purely process-driven, and who is comfortable holding suppliers accountable, finding alternatives and identifying better ways of doing things.

Salary

• Salary of £85,000 – £90,000
• 15% bonus
• Senior role within a growing international business
• Significant influence across global sourcing and manufacturing strategy
• Opportunity to build and shape a newly created position