The Sterling Choice
Supplier Approval Manager
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Supplier Approval Manager
Northwest England | Hybrid
£50,000 - £60,000 + Car Allowance
Growth creates opportunity. It also creates risk.
This role helps manage both.
Following significant growth, the technical function has expanded and created a brand-new Supplier Approval Manager position to strengthen one of the most important parts of the business. This isn't a replacement. It's an investment.
Your focus will be ensuring suppliers across the UK and Europe meet the standards expected by both the business and some of the UK's most demanding retailers. You'll conduct supplier approval audits, support new supplier onboarding, manage corrective actions and work closely with suppliers to help them continually improve rather than simply identifying non-conformances.
Travel is a genuine part of the role. You'll spend around 30 to 35 weeks each year visiting suppliers across Europe, particularly Spain, Italy and Germany, helping prepare sites for customer approval and building long-term partnerships with key manufacturers. When you're not travelling, you'll split your time between home and the Northwest office.
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Alongside supplier approval, you'll oversee the raw material approval process through a direct report, ensuring documentation, approvals and technical compliance continue to run smoothly while allowing you to focus on the bigger picture.
This is a business that's investing heavily in its technical function, facilities and future growth. New leadership has already restructured the department, creating clearer career pathways and additional opportunities as the business continues to expand. Whether your ambition is to move into Technical Account Management, broader technical leadership or specialist supplier quality, you'll be joining a business that actively develops its people rather than expecting them to stand still.
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To be successful
- You'll already have experience conducting supplier approval audits within food manufacturing and be comfortable working with retailer standards.
- More than anything, they're looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, is confident representing the business with suppliers across Europe, and takes pride in raising standards through collaboration rather than simply auditing against a checklist.
If you're looking for a role where you'll genuinely influence supplier quality, enjoy a varied workload, travel internationally and join a business investing heavily in both its people and its future, I'd be happy to tell you more in complete confidence.
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