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.