Purchasing Manager UK (Manchester / Stockport)

ABOUT CAF

Innovation is in our DNA - we thrive on pushing boundaries and adapting to new challenges with a flexible approach. Proud to be a global leader, our fast-paced growth provides exciting opportunities for our team and the community.

Committed to maintaining trains and trams, our mission is to enhance vehicle safety and reliability. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a comfortable, dependable, and sustainable commuting experience for all passengers.

Based out of multiple locations across the UK, our 24/7 operation means we’re always on hand to deliver reliable technical support. Utilising the latest digital technology, we strive to enhance dependability, helping people to get to where they need to be!

We wouldn’t be where we are without our people. Working together as a team, we strive to achieve great things while supporting each other to thrive along the way. We’re going places, so apply today and become part of our exciting journey.

What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: You will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: Our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: We will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide 'what' and 'how'.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting-edge technology: You will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company?

The Purchasing Manager UK is accountable for developing and delivering an effective procurement strategy that drives commercial value, enhances supplier performance, and supports business growth. This role plays a critical part in aligning UK procurement initiatives with CAF’s global standards, contributing to cost reduction, risk mitigation, operational efficiency, and supply chain sustainability. The role includes leadership responsibilities and active engagement with internal and external stakeholders to ensure excellence in procurement governance and supplier collaboration. This role is also responsible for managing the purchasing activities of Direct Materials and supporting operations with services across CAF UK, ensuring best value, risk mitigation, and optimal supplier performance. This role supports the development of a robust, compliant, and strategically aligned supply chain that adheres to CAF’s global policies and local requirements. The position is critical for integrating procurement activities with wider business goals, contributing to overall efficiency, sustainability, and commercial success.

Your daily duties will include:

• Lead procurement of goods and services ensuring value, compliance, and supplier performance.
• Oversee supplier selection, performance, and development aligned with group policy.
• Drive procurement and purchasing improvements through KPIs analysis and action plan implementation.
• Support major project tenders, including due diligence and contract negotiations.
• Align UK procurement and purchasing activities with global strategies and promote cross-border collaboration.
• Develop and execute cost reduction and efficiency initiatives.
• Maintain strong communication with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Ensure procurement and purchasing best practices and adherence to corporate governance.
• Implement social value objectives with supply chain partners.
• Lead UK procurement and purchasing activities ensuring alignment with global strategies and adherence to governance standards.
• Identify, assess, and onboard suppliers that deliver optimal value, service levels, and innovation.
• Lead or support tendering processes for major overhaul projects, ensuring compliance, value for money, and supplier capability.
• Develop category strategies and execute cost-reduction programs across all indirect and direct expenditure..
• Embed ESG, social value, and ethical sourcing principles in procurement and purchasing activities and supplier expectations.
• Represent procurement and purchasing on senior management forums and contribute to wider corporate initiatives.
• Champion Digital Supply Chain / Procurement / Purchasing – moving away gradually from legacy files / systems.

What salary will you be paid for this role?

As a Real Living Wage Employer, we are proud to pay competitively at CAF. For this role you will be offered a salary in the region of £65,000 per annum.  

What will make you successful in this position?

To succeed in this role you will need:

• Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in a relevant field.
• Full MCIPS qualification.
• SAP experience required.
• Full Microsoft package proficiency [Word, Excel, Powerpoint].
• Proven experience in a senior procurement role, ideally in the rail, engineering, or manufacturing sectors.
• Strategic procurement experience at senior management level.
• Strong understanding of Mechanical & Electrical systems and components.
• Demonstrated success in contract negotiation and supplier management.
• Proven record of strategic procurement planning and delivery in fast-paced environments.
• Experience managing supplier risk, contract negotiations, and complex stakeholder relationships.

ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER 

A Real Living Wage employer and proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, RSSB Mental Health Charter and Women in Rail EDI Charter, we’ve a lot to shout about at CAF.

Creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging is really important to us and we’re proud to offer our people a range of benefits to support wellbeing including 25 days annual leave, an excellent workplace pension scheme (with up to 10% contribution from us), not forgetting to mention our generous health care cash plan and Bike2Work scheme just to name a few!

Looking for career development? Our Professional Sponsorship scheme will help you to achieve your goals while our Flexible Working policy and Family Friendly culture mean everyone is supported to thrive at CAF. 

As a socially responsible business, we offer paid volunteering days and promote a variety of social value initiatives, including tree-planting, company-wide donation drives, and providing support to the homeless community and refugees. We’re creating waves of positive change through delivering meaningful social value impact on and off the tracks!