Job Description

About Us

Contract Candles and Diffusers was founded over 27 years ago in 1997. We are a leader in the manufacturer of luxury candles and diffusers for many of the world's leading brands. We manufacture our fantastic products in two main sites in Chichester and Fernhurst in the Surrey hills?.

The company is built on traditional, hard-working, family values. We are passionate about service and quality. Our mission is to continue to use our knowledge and experience to produce the finest products for leading luxury brands.

The job in a nutshell:

We are looking for a strategic Procurement Manager to complete our senior purchasing team. Reporting directly to the Head of Planning & Procurement and working alongside our existing Procurement Manager, you will take ownership of the Packaging and Bespoke Components category.

In this pivotal role, you will move away from day-to-day purchasing (managed by our Planners) to focus on the bigger picture: sourcing innovation, driving sustainability, negotiating high-value contracts, and ensuring our planning systems have the accurate data needed to run smooth operations.

Purpose of the Role:

To lead the strategic sourcing of packaging, glassware, and bespoke components. You will play a key role in shaping supply strategies, leading supplier selection, and negotiating commercial terms that deliver value, quality, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

:

Strategic Sourcing, Quotes & Negotiation

Packaging & Glassware Ownership:

Lead the sourcing strategy for rigid boxes, labels, glassware, and bespoke componentry.

Quotation Management:

Manage the end-to-end quotation process for new developments. Ensure Design and Business Relations teams receive accurate, timely, and commercially viable quotes for client projects.

Commercial Negotiation:

Secure best-in-class pricing and terms (MOQs, lead times, payment terms) for all new projects before handing over to the Planning team.

Cost Reduction:

Deliver annual cost savings through supplier consolidation, strategic resourcing, and improved purchasing efficiencies, while maintaining quality standards.

Supplier Performance (OTIF) & Relationships

Vendor OTIF:

Drive supplier performance improvements by rigorously monitoring On-Time In-Full (OTIF) metrics. Address persistent issues with underperforming suppliers to protect the production schedule.

SRM:

Manage high-level business reviews with strategic partners, addressing long-term performance trends and capacity planning.

Supplier Quality & Non-Conformance Management

Supplier Quality Management

: Ensure quality expectations, specifications, and tolerances are clearly defined and understood at sourcing and onboarding stage.

QC Issue Resolution

: Own supplier-facing communication for quality non-conformances, working closely with internal Quality and Operations teams to support investigations, validate root cause analysis, and negotiate corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

Cost & Liability Management

: Negotiate and secure appropriate compensation, credits, or corrective actions with suppliers for quality failures, ensuring financial exposure and production risk are minimised.

Continuous Improvement

: Work collaboratively with Quality, Production, and Planning teams to drive long-term supplier quality improvements and reduce repeat issues.

Sustainability Leadership

Sustainability Owner:

Act as the department lead for sustainable sourcing. Drive the transition to recycled materials (PCR), ensure FSC compliance, and reduce plastic usage across your categories.

Ethical Compliance:

Ensure all new suppliers meet our Sedex and Ecovadis standards before approval.

Procurement Systems & Planning Enablement

Master Data Integrity:

You are responsible for the accuracy of "Static Data" in Microsoft Business Central. You must ensure lead times, pricing, and supplier cards are set up correctly so the Planners can generate accurate POs.

Process Improvement:

Drive system improvements to streamline the flow of information from Sourcing to Planning.

Innovation & Sourcing

Innovation:

Actively scout for new market trends, innovative materials, and manufacturing technologies to present to the Design and R&D teams.

Risk Management:

Identify potential supply risks (e.g., single-source dependencies) during the development phase and implement mitigation plans.

What You Need to Be Successful

Experience:

Proven track record in sourcing, ideally within Luxury Goods or Manufacturing.

Systems Proficiency:

Advanced skills in the Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience in using Microsoft Business Central (or similar) for ERP management and Power BI for data reporting and analysis.

Strategic Mindset:

Ability to maintain a strategic focus while supporting day-to-day purchasing operations.

Negotiation Skills:

Ability to negotiate complex supply agreements that cover price, stock holding, and liability.

What this role offers:

Salary:

40,000 - 45,000 per annum (Dependent on Experience)

Location:

Chichester, West Sussex (On-site)

Benefits:

Company Pension, On-site Parking, Staff Discount.

CC&D have the ambition to be the best luxury candle manufacturer in the world with a key focus on sustainability. Our mission is to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our business operations. We strive to lead by example, inspire positive change, and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 40,000.00-45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Cycle to work scheme Enhanced maternity leave Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Sick pay
Work Location: In person