Role purpose

The Group Procurement Manager will establish and lead a centralised procurement function for Melita Marine Group. The role is responsible for securing the materials, equipment, subcontracted services and logistics support needed by the Group’s marine, shipyard, engineering, energy and commercial diving businesses.

The successful candidate will improve purchasing control and supplier performance while ensuring that urgent operational and project requirements are met. They will develop consistent processes across the Group, provide visibility of expenditure and support each business unit in obtaining the right quality at a competitive total cost.

Key responsibilities

Procurement strategy and control
- Develop and implement a Group procurement strategy covering Malta and overseas operations.
- Establish purchasing procedures, approval workflows and clear responsibilities in line with the Group’s delegated authority.
- Consolidate common purchases and negotiate Group-wide agreements where this improves price, service or availability.
- Maintain visibility of committed expenditure, purchase orders, supplier performance and procurement risks.
- Work with Finance and Operational teams to improve budget control, cost coding and the accuracy of purchasing data.
Sourcing and supplier management
- Source and evaluate suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and subcontractors for technical and non-technical requirements.
- Lead tenders, requests for quotation, bid comparisons, commercial negotiations and contract renewals.
- Assess suppliers against cost, technical suitability, quality, delivery, warranty, financial and compliance requirements.
- Build reliable alternatives for critical items and manage supply risks, including long lead-time parts.
- Monitor supplier performance and resolve pricing, delivery, quality and warranty issues.
Operational and project support
- Support planned works, tenders and urgent requirements across shipyard, vessel repair, diesel and power systems, diving and other Group activities.
- Engage early with Project Managers and Technical teams to confirm specifications, delivery dates and procurement budgets.
- Track critical orders through to delivery and escalate delays that could affect project milestones or customer commitments.
- Coordinate with Logistics on freight, customs documentation and delivery to Malta and overseas project locations.
- Ensure purchases from authorised manufacturers and distributors comply with applicable supply arrangements and customer requirements.
Stock and process improvement
- Work with business units to set appropriate stock levels for frequently used and critical items.
- Improve stock visibility, traceability and the handling of obsolete or slow-moving inventory.
- Standardise supplier records, item descriptions and purchasing data within the Group’s systems.
- Identify opportunities to reduce waste, duplicate purchasing, avoidable freight costs and administrative work.
- Lead and develop the procurement team, setting clear priorities, service standards and accountability.

Performance measures

Performance will be assessed against agreed targets, including:

Savings and cost avoidance that can be verified against a clear baseline.
On-time delivery of critical materials and services.
Supplier quality and responsiveness.
Purchase order compliance and accuracy of procurement records.
Stock availability, stock turnover and reduction of obsolete inventory.
Procurement support to project deadlines and business unit requirements.

Candidate requirements

At least seven years’ relevant procurement or supply chain experience, including experience managing people or leading a procurement function.
Strong commercial negotiation, supplier management and contract administration skills.
Experience purchasing technical equipment, parts or subcontracted services; marine, engineering, industrial or energy sector experience is particularly valuable.
Ability to balance cost control with the practical demands of time-critical operations.
Good understanding of international purchasing, freight and import / export processes.
Confidence working with ERP or purchasing systems and producing useful expenditure and performance reports.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with Finance, Technical Specialists and Operational Managers.
A relevant degree or professional procurement qualification, such as CIPS, is preferred.

Personal attributes

The successful candidate will be organised, commercially minded and comfortable taking ownership. They will challenge costs and processes constructively, act with integrity, and remain responsive when operational priorities change.

This description outlines the principal responsibilities of the role and may be developed as the Group’s procurement function evolves.

Group Procurement Manager

Job Description