Location: Bristol
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.
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
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
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