Job Title
Strategic Procurement Specialist
Location
Redditch/Margate
About Us
Gardner Denver is a leading provider of mission-critical flow control and compression equipment and associated aftermarket parts, consumables, and services, which it sells across multiple attractive end-markets within the industrial, energy and medical industries. Its broad and complete range of compressor, vacuum and blower products and services, along with its application expertise and over 160 years of engineering heritage, allows Gardner Denver to provide differentiated product and service offerings for its customers' specific uses.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Global Supply Manager, the Procurement Specialist is based in either Redditch or Kent and is responsible for strategic procurement activities across the business. Working as part of an integrated procurement team of four, the role operates on a multi‑site basis, providing procurement support across the Redditch, Margate and Bradford facilities as required. This approach ensures effective sourcing, optimal use of procurement resources, and the development of aligned sourcing strategies that combine spend, strengthen supplier relationships and deliver improved performance for all sites.
Responsibilities
- Support strategic sourcing and supplier development, identifying, onboarding, and managing suppliers to meet long‑term business, cost, quality, delivery, and innovation objectives.
- Drive cost optimisation and value engineering, analysing spend and market trends and partnering with Engineering and Operations to deliver sustainable cost‑down initiatives without compromising performance
- Own commercial negotiations, contracts, and supply risk, ensuring supplier compliance, managing agreements, and proactively mitigating risks to secure continuity of supply.
- Optimise working capital and inventory, implementing LTAs, VMI/consignment models, MOQ and lead‑time improvements to reduce inventory and prevent excess or obsolete stock.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally to support forecasting, capacity planning, and NPI, using SAP and analytics to align supplier capacity with demand and ensure scalable, low‑risk sourcing for new products.
Basic Qualifications
- Degree level or equivalent qualification preferred.
- CIPS or equivalent supply chain qualification preferred.
- Strategic Purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment required.
- Experience with OEM or in the automotive industry would be advantageous.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Travel & Work Arrangements/Requirements
Site based with an opportunity for hybrid working, overseas travel where required.
Key Competencies
- Strong commercial and operational understanding of manufacturing, planning, quality, and engineering requirements, including the ability to interpret technical drawings.
- Highly analytical with strong numerical, communication, and influencing skills, able to translate data into clear business decisions.
- Advanced user of ERP/MRP systems (ideally SAP) with strong Excel capability to support planning, analysis, and reporting.
- Commercially astute with proven negotiation and contract management skills, delivering cost reduction, service improvement, and risk mitigation.
- Proactive, KPI‑driven leader and problem‑solver, highly organised and effective in fast‑paced, high‑pressure, cross‑functional environments
What we Offer
- 25 Days Holiday + 8 Bank Holidays (Option to purchase 5 days after probation period)
- 7% Employer Pension Contribution
- Westfield Health Medical Cash Plan Cover
- Death in Service Benefit of 4 x salary
- Cycle scheme (After probation period)
- Electric Car Scheme (After 1 year employment)
- 10% of salary in shares after 1 year of employment
- Costco Gold Company member, allowing employees to join.
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Policies
