Procurement Manager

Location: Reading, Berkshire (On-site)

ABOUT XYZ REALITY

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XYZ Reality are the creators of the world's first and only engineering-grade Augmented Reality solution, purpose built for the construction industry. Not only have we created this holographic technology, that sits within The Atom — a smart, site-safe headset/hardhat — but we implement it on projects, utilising the power of AR to ensure that all schemes are completed in line with delivery timescales and budgets.

XYZ has grown to over 100 staff across the UK, US & Europe and is working with Mission Critical organisations & construction companies to successfully deliver major projects.

THE ROLE

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This role sits within the Production team at our NPI facility in Reading, Berkshire, reporting to the Production & Quality Director.

As Procurement Manager, you will own procurement for our NPI facility end to end — supplier strategy, negotiation, contracts, purchase-to-pay and supplier performance — for a hardware product built from electro-mechanical, optical and electronic assemblies sourced internationally.

The role takes procurement off the director and builds it into a managed function: negotiated terms, second sources where single-source risk justifies them, and supplier quality joined up with the QMS. You'll be building a function from a standing start, not inheriting a running one.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

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• Own the supplier base — segmentation, approval, review and rationalisation. Identify and qualify second sources for single-source components, and lead sourcing for new product introduction from RFQ through to first article.

• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, MOQs and framework agreements. Own supplier contracts, NDAs, tooling ownership, and consignment or buffer-stock arrangements — and deliver a year-on-year cost-reduction plan.

• Negotiate and manage service, maintenance, support and calibration agreements for production equipment, test kit and facilities — including indirect and services procurement to the same commercial standards as direct material spend.

• Own the purchase-to-pay process end to end, including ERP purchasing data (pricing, lead times, supplier records), reorder points, safety stock and order-quantity policy with Logistics and the Systems Engineer.

• Own supplier quality under ISO 9001 clause 8.4 — approval, monitoring, scorecards, audits and corrective action — and ensure supply chain compliance (RoHS, REACH, conflict minerals, CE/UKCA).

• Line-manage the Systems Engineer and report on spend, delivered savings, supplier performance, lead times and shortage risk to the Production & Quality Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

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• Substantial procurement experience in an electronics, electro-mechanical or precision-manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrable negotiation record with measurable savings and improved commercial terms.

• Experience of supplier quality management under ISO 9001, including audits and corrective action.

• Confident user of ERP purchasing modules; CIPS qualification or equivalent desirable.

KEY EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

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• Strong understanding of BOM-driven purchasing, order quantities, lead times and inventory policy — comfortable managing material shortages before they reach production.

• Experience contracting for services as well as materials — service, maintenance, support agreements, subcontract and indirect spend.

• Experience of second-sourcing and supply-chain risk management on single-source components.

• Working knowledge of international sourcing, incoterms, duty and customs.

• Involvement in an ERP implementation or migration is a strong advantage.

• Able to build a procurement function from a standing start rather than inherit a running one — comfortable with ambiguity and a fast-moving environment.

BENEFITS

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• 🏝️ 25 days annual leave + public holidays

• 🩺 Private healthcare with Vitality

• 🎄 Christmas shutdown days on top of leave allowance (2–4 per year usually)

• 🪙 Biannual salary reviews

• 🥳 Summer & Christmas staff parties

• 💰 Employee referral scheme

• 🚲 Cycle to Work scheme

• 🚀 Make a real-world impact of revolutionising the construction industry