Senior Procurement Manager

Senior Procurement ManagerLocation: East Sussex (3/4 days onsite)Salary: Up to £80,000 depending on experience + 8% BonusOverviewI’m working on an exciting greenfield opportunity for a growing international fragrance business seeking to appoint a Senior Procurement Manger to develop their existing function. Part of a well-established, family-owned global group, the company develops fragrances for leading consumer brands across home fragrance, fine fragrance and personal care categories, with operations spanning Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. The business is investing heavily in its future, including a new flagship headquarters, advanced automation technology and continued international expansion.This is a high-profile leadership role offering the opportunity to transform and shape the procurement function, influence strategic decision-making, and work closely with senior stakeholders across the UK and wider global group. The successful candidate will inherit a capable team and a function with significant opportunity for optimisation and value creation.Role & ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute procurement strategies across raw materials, ingredients, essential oils, aroma chemicals and packagingLead, mentor and develop a small procurement team, embedding best practice and a culture of continuous improvementDrive strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations and contract management to deliver value, resilience and innovationIntroduce structured procurement processes, competitive tendering and supplier performance management frameworksImprove inventory management and working capital performance, balancing supply security, lead times and commercial objectivesEnhance cost forecasting, market intelligence and commercial modelling to support business decision-makingBuild strong relationships with internal stakeholders including Operations, Finance, Perfumery, Creative and Commercial teamsCollaborate closely with the Group Purchasing function and international colleagues to leverage global capabilities and supplier opportunitiesMonitor supplier performance, risk and compliance within a regulated ingredients environmentProvide regular reporting on procurement performance, savings initiatives and supplier developmentsSkills & ExperienceProven procurement leadership experience within fragrances, flavours, specialty chemicals, ingredients or a related manufacturing environmentStrong background in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, category management and procurement transformationExperience improving inventory performance, forecasting and working capital managementDemonstrable success leading and developing procurement teamsCommercially astute, analytical and confident influencing senior stakeholdersStrong relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across technical, creative and commercial functionsExperience operating in an international, multi-site environment is highly desirableKnowledge of regulated ingredients markets, IFRA, REACH or similar standards would be advantageousMost importantly, candidates will demonstrate curiosity, humility, learning agility and a collaborative leadership styleBenefitsCompetitive salary of £65,000 to £80,000 depending on experience8% annual bonus25 days' holiday plus bank holidaysAdditional Christmas shutdown daysCompany pension schemeHybrid working arrangementOn-site parkingInternational exposure and career development opportunities within a global groupSignificant autonomy and the opportunity to shape and modernise a strategically important procurement function