Direct Procurement Specialist

Direct Procurement / Strategic Sourcing Manager Location: Bristol The Role We are seeking an experienced Direct Procurement / Strategic Sourcing professional to lead the sourcing and purchasing of retail furniture for large-scale rollout programmes. This role is heavily focused on global sourcing, supplier negotiation, and cost competitiveness, with full autonomy to source from international markets to achieve best-in-class commercial outcomes. You will play a critical role in securing competitive pricing, ensuring supply continuity, and handing over robust procurement strategies to production teams to enable successful project delivery. Key Responsibilities Lead end-to-end direct procurement activities, from supplier identification through RFQ, evaluation, and contract award Source, assess, and onboard domestic and international manufacturing partners to optimise cost, quality, and lead times Manage RFQs, cost breakdowns, and comparative analyses to support data-driven sourcing decisions Lead commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing, payment terms, and contractual conditions Develop sourcing strategies aligned to rollout schedules, volumes, and budget targets Present and hand over procurement strategies to production and project teams Act as the primary commercial contact for key suppliers and manufacturers Collaborate with design, quality, logistics, and project delivery teams to ensure solutions meet technical, aesthetic, and functional requirements Monitor market trends, raw material pricing, and global manufacturing conditions to identify cost-saving and risk-mitigation opportunities Audit and manage supplier compliance across quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing standards Drive continuous improvement initiatives across cost reduction, lead-time optimisation, and supplier performance Knowledge & Skills Strong understanding of manufacturing methods, production capability, and cost structures Experience in value engineering and cost optimisation Knowledge of domestic and international manufacturing landscapes Ability to analyse complex cost data and select best-fit sourcing solutions Confident interpreting technical drawings and specifications Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills Manufacturing exposure across: Woodwork (solid surface, veneering, lamination) Metalwork (tube, sheet, folding, welding) Plastics (bending, vacuum forming, injection moulding) Print and glass Experience Substantial experience in procurement, buying, and supplier negotiation Strong background in manufacturing or production-led environments Proven experience evaluating multiple tenders and cost models Ideally experience within retail furniture production or a closely related sector International sourcing experience preferred but not essential