Purchasing Manager - IT & Marketing

Vacancy Information

We have a fantastic opportunity to join the Procurement team at Greggs as Purchasing Manager on an 18-month fixed term contract, and play a key role in building strong, effective relationships with both suppliers and internal stakeholders.

This role will provide interim support in the months leading up to and including cover of maternity leave.
In this role, you'll manage a defined portfolio of suppliers, including several that are strategically important to Greggs. You'll take ownership of supplier performance, embrace continuous improvement and ensure value and resilience across your categories.

Working cross‑functionally will be central to your success, collaborating with colleagues to resolve supplier issues and drive positive outcomes. This is a great opportunity for a commercially minded procurement professional who enjoys operating in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

We can offer you

• Management Bonus Scheme which is worth up to 12.5% of your salary

• Pension scheme with matching employer contributions up to 7%

• Colleague discount, up to 50% off our own-produced products

• Profit share - We want everyone to share in the success of the business, so we distribute 10% of our profits to all our colleagues who have at least 6-month service, or more, each year

• 25 days (5 weeks) annual leave, pro-rated, increasing with service (in addition to bank holidays), plus 1 additional floating day

• The opportunity to purchase additional annual leave twice a year

• Colleague share plans, giving you the opportunity to save and invest in Greggs, with the chance to buy Greggs shares at a discounted rate

• Private Medical Insurance which is free for you and subsidised for your dependants

• Death in service benefit which provides a lump-sum payment equal to 4 times your year's salary

• Virtual GP, Physiotherapy and Lifestyle Consultations - we provide access to a fantastic total wellbeing app for you and your family

• Employee Assistance Programme - we provide all colleagues with access to an EAP helpline providing mental health support as well as financial and legal support

• Savings and discounts, including digital gift card discounts, online cashback, in-store and online coupons and lifestyle offers

• Career progression and learning and development opportunities

• A company who cares about our communities; the environment and being a better business! Click here to read about The Greggs Pledge

• Colleague Networks - internal groups where colleagues and their allies can share their own experiences, offer feedback on the way we do things at Greggs, and provide support to one another

About the role

• This is a full-time role, however flexibility in this will be considered
• We know that having a work-life balance is important, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role
• The base location for this role is Greggs House, Q9, Quorum Business Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 8BU

What you'll do

• Lead the development and execution of multi‑year IT and Marketing category strategies, ensuring certainty of supply, delivery of value, effective risk mitigation and alignment with Greggs' broader technology and brand growth roadmap
• Own commercial and contractual strategy for all IT and Marketing suppliers, negotiating robust commercial models that balance value, risk and long‑term sustainability
• Drive measurable value for money across the portfolio, through rigorous market analysis, cost modelling, benchmarking, and ongoing performance evaluation to ensure benefits are realised and sustained over time
• Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships, embedding structured governance and Joint Business Planning with key suppliers to drive innovation, performance improvement, and continuous commercial optimisation
• Provide senior oversight and resolution of supplier issues and escalations, working cross‑functionally to ensure service resilience, contractual compliance and minimal business disruption
• Lead procurement input into major, business‑critical programmes and transformation initiatives, providing end‑to‑end commercial leadership from sourcing strategy through to contract implementation and value realisation
• Champion responsible sourcing and supplier assurance, ensuring procurement activity operates in line with ISO20400 principles, ethical sourcing standards and Greggs' Procurement Code of Conduct
• Continuously improve procurement processes, standards and frameworks, strengthening controls, consistency and best practice while maintaining a strong customer and stakeholder focus
• Build strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders, acting as a commercial advisor across IT, Marketing, Finance and Legal to enable informed decision‑making and effective delivery

About you

You will fit right into this role if you:

• Have proven experience procuring a range of IT categories, including software and SaaS licensing, cloud services, infrastructure, cyber security, payments, networks and managed services, with a strong grasp of commercial models and risk drivers (marketing category exposure is a bonus, but not essential)
• Bring strong, confident negotiation skills and know how to achieve commercially sound outcomes
• Can evidence the development and delivery of effective category strategies that drive tangible results
• Are highly numerate, with strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data to inform decision‑making
• Are a self‑starter who plans, prioritises and organises workload effectively in a fast‑paced environment
• Have a track record of delivering value, driving continuous improvement and challenging the status quo
• Communicate clearly and confidently, with excellent verbal and written skills
• Are assertive and tenacious, able to manage internal and external stakeholders with diplomacy and professionalism
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and influencing skills, building trusted relationships at all levels
• Take a thorough, insight‑led approach to sourcing, researching key cost drivers and ensuring procurement activity reflects best value
• Are team‑orientated, with a genuine passion for achieving both personal and collective objectives
• Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, with experience of SAP considered advantageous
• Bring a can‑do attitude, with flexibility to working hours when the role requires it
• Offer strong people leadership skills, with experience of line managing, developing teams and nurturing talent
• Are supportive of an inclusive culture - recognising and valuing that difference is good
• Want to develop and are ready to work alongside some great people and have lots of fun on your Greggs journey!

About Greggs

Here at Greggs, we love what we do, and we have fun! What makes us so special is our culture - how we behave and support each other. Everyone's welcome at Greggs. Whatever their background, preferences or beliefs we want all of our colleagues to feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. You can read more about us here: Greggs Careers | About Greggs.

Apply

Salary

Circa £60,000 per annum, depending on experience

Working conditions

Contract: Temporary Monday to Friday, however some flexibility may be required depending on business needs

Working hours: Full time

Pay frequency: Annual