Wärtsilä Defence Solutions Limited (WDSL) delivers integrated shaft line systems, packages and products for naval and commercial marine applications. Our solutions help customers improve lifecycle efficiency, reduce operational risk and support environmentally sustainable operations.
We are now looking for a Purchasing Manager to join Wärtsilä Defence Solutions Limited on a permanent basis in Havant, UK. We can offer this working on a hybrid basis working a minimum of 3 days from our Havant, UK office.
As Purchasing Manager, you will be managing the purchasing function and supply chain to ensure effective procurement of materials and subcontract activities, to achieve production requirements and customer on time delivery targets. You'll work closely with the local team and wider business Operations and Sales teams, and you will report to the Supply and Demand Manager.
This is an opportunity to join a business as it further gears up in terms of supply chain activity and help form process and procedures to help form the future direction of a growing defence business.
As Purchasing Manager, your will have these responsibilities:
- Lead and manage the operational purchasing team.
- Coordinate all site purchasing activities (direct spend, indirect spend and subcon activities).
- Ensure quotations and purchase orders are reviewed, correct and placed in time.
- Work to ensure suppliers deliver on time and can fulfil our demand to achieve OTIF.
- Monitor and report performance of the supply chain and purchasing function.
- Escalate and report on supply chain issues, risks and challenges.
- Create and implement action plans for supply chain performance improvement.
- Ensure supplier data is maintained (including: pricing, lead-times, EOQs, MOQs).
- Create, maintain and improve processes and processes for the purchasing function.
- Provide proactive support across the business unit and the other departments.
- Develop and maintain good internal stakeholder and external supplier relationships.
- Coach, mentor and develop the purchasing team.
Required qualifications:
- L6 CIPS qualification or equivalent
- Ability to attain SC clearance
To be successful in this role, we expect you to have:
- The ability to lead and motivate a team of 4-5 operational purchasers/buyers.
- An interest in mentoring and developing team members.
- The gravitas to resolve issues escalated to you, owning problems to negotiate solutions.
- Experience of dynamically allocating resource / workload to keep a production environment running from a procurement perspective.
- Strong collaborative skills to build effective relationships across the internal and external supply chain.
- The ability to influence supplier to resolve the majority of issues without escalation both within our internal production capability and the external sub-contraction partners.
- Good communication skills which will enable you to own relationships.
Please note that this position requires the successful candidate to initially complete a BPSS background clearance and the need obtain and maintain the appropriate Security Clearance (SC level). Any applicants must have (and be able to evidence) the right to work in the UK.
Why you and us
You are valued as your true self. At Wärtsilä, we believe in diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone can contribute, develop and thrive. We support our people in building meaningful careers through continuous learning, collaboration and opportunities for growth.
Contact & next steps:
Please submit your application through our Careers portal. Applications submitted via email will not be considered. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email.
We anticipate to be starting interviews in mid – late August
For further questions please reach out to Jason Crouch, Talent Partner, through email [email protected] with any questions related to this position (only for questions from direct job applicants, applications through email will not be recorded or responded to). At this stage we are not engaging agency partners for this position.
Last application date: 12/08/2026
At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities.
Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.
