Senior Commercial Procurement Manager ( Fresh Produce)

POSITION TITLE: Senior Commercial Procurement Manager

LOCATION: Office Based ( 2/3 days ) / Home based Flexible.

REPORTS TO: Procurement Director

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Procurement & Supply Strategy

Develop and implement sourcing and procurement strategies aligned to business objectives.

Build and maintain strong relationships with growers, suppliers and strategic partners.

Secure supply programmes that deliver quality, availability, service and value.

Lead supplier negotiations, contracts and commercial agreements.

Commercial & Financial Management

Manage category performance, delivering sales, margin and profitability targets.

Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency and commercial returns.

Support budget, forecast and business planning processes.

Monitor market trends, crop conditions and supply risks to inform purchasing decisions.

Supplier Relationship Management

Develop strategic supplier partnerships to support long-term business growth.

Conduct regular supplier reviews to assess performance and identify improvement opportunities.

Manage supplier performance against agreed KPIs and service expectations.

Resolve commercial issues and disputes in a timely manner.

Team Leadership

Lead, coach and develop Commercial Executives and wider team members.

Create a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.

Support succession planning and talent development.

Manage individual and team performance effectively.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Sales, Operations, Technical, Logistics and Finance teams.

Ensure procurement decisions support customer requirements and business objectives.

Drive effective communication across internal and external stakeholders.

Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

EXPERIENCE

Proven procurement or buying experience within Produce, Food or FMCG.

Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.

Experience managing commercial performance and profitability.

Strong market knowledge and understanding of supply chain dynamics.

Leadership experience with the ability to develop and coach others.

Excellent commercial and analytical skills.