Purchasing and Planning Manager

Location: Hailsham East Sussex
Salary: Competitive depending on experience
Hours: MondayFriday Permanent

Placr Recruitment is looking for an experienced Purchasing & Planning Manager to join our client an established and rapidly growing advanced manufacturing business based in East Sussex.

This is a key leadership position with responsibility for purchasing production planning and scheduling leading a team of four and playing an important role in supporting the companys continued growth.

Youll be joining a technically advanced high-complexity manufacturing environment where strong planning supplier performance and operational efficiency are critical to success.

Youll take ownership of purchasing and production planning ensuring materials and resources are available when required and supporting the business in achieving 95% on-time delivery to customers and from suppliers.

Working closely with Production Engineering Quality Finance and Sales youll combine strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to improve processes strengthen supplier performance and build scalable systems for future growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and develop a team of four purchasing and planning professionals.
• Manage purchasing production planning and scheduling.
• Drive supplier performance and on-time delivery.
• Support a target of 95% customer and supplier on-time delivery.
• Develop efficient scalable purchasing and planning processes.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Provide commercial and operational insight to senior management.
• Work collaboratively across Production Engineering Quality Finance and Sales.
• Support the companys continued growth and operational development.
• Attend customer meetings site visits and industry events when required.

Were looking for a confident energetic and commercially minded purchasing and planning professional with significant experience in a low-volume high-complexity manufacturing environment.

Youll ideally have:

• 10 years experience across purchasing and production planning.
• At least 5 years experience in a leadership or management position.
• A strong background in production planning purchasing and scheduling.
• Experience leading and developing a team.
• Excellent supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• A structured approach to planning prioritisation and delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a fast-moving high-growth business.
• Degree-level qualifications or equivalent experience.

Experience within advanced manufacturing or technically complex engineering environments would be highly advantageous.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Purchasing & Planning Manager to take a senior role within a growing innovation-led manufacturing business.

Youll have the opportunity to lead a team influence operational strategy improve processes and directly contribute to the companys next stage of growth.

If youre an experienced purchasing and planning leader who enjoys taking ownership improving performance and making a measurable difference wed like to hear from you.