Sourcing Specialist - Polymers & Advanced Manufacturing

Sourcing Specialist – Polymers & Advanced Manufacturing LOCATION: Aylesford, Kent, Office based or Hybrid WORKING HOURS: 8.00am – 4.30pm CONTRACT: Full-time, Permanent Join Our Team We're looking for a Sourcing Specialist to join our growing team at Pineapple. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of an award-winning business where you'll play an important role in supporting our continued success. If you're passionate about delivering great results, enjoy working collaboratively and are looking for a company that genuinely values its people, we'd love to hear from you. What We’re Looking for We’re looking for an experienced sourcing professional with strong knowledge of polymers and manufacturing processes. You’ll have experience working with suppliers, evaluating manufacturing capabilities and sourcing materials or components within a manufacturing environment. You’ll be commercially minded, technically curious and confident working with suppliers and cross-functional teams. Experience in polymer manufacturing, NPD, product development or a related industry would be highly desirable. Most importantly, you’ll be a practical problem-solver who enjoys finding new suppliers, exploring manufacturing solutions and turning product concepts into commercially viable products. Identify, evaluate and onboard suppliers to support new product development and manufacturing requirements. Source polymer materials, moulded components and finished products for new and existing ranges. Develop strong supplier relationships to drive innovation, quality, cost reduction and sustainability. Assess supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, technical expertise, quality systems and capacity. Work closely with Materials, Design, Engineering and NPD teams to identify manufacturing solutions for new products. Lead supplier RFQs, capability assessments, sample reviews, commercial evaluations and negotiations. Review supplier technical information and test evidence, identifying gaps, risks and areas requiring clarification. Support tooling, prototyping, development and industrialisation activities through to product launch. Identify emerging manufacturing technologies, processes and materials that could benefit Pineapple. Coordinate supplier visits, audits, development meetings and technical reviews. Build and maintain a strong supplier pipeline across polymers and processes including rotational moulding, injection moulding, blow moulding and extrusion. Manage multiple sourcing and supplier-development projects, ensuring key milestones, risks and deadlines are effectively communicated and delivered. Any other ad hoc duties as required by the business. What success looks like You’ll build a strong supplier network, identify innovative manufacturing solutions and help bring new products to market on time, at the right quality and cost. Ideally, you’ll have: Degree, HND or equivalent practical experience in Polymer Science, Manufacturing, Engineering, Product Design, Supply Chain or a related field. Proven experience in sourcing, supplier development or supplier management within a manufacturing environment, ideally involving polymers or plastics. Strong understanding of polymer materials and manufacturing processes, including injection moulding, rotational moulding, extrusion, blow moulding and thermoforming. Experience working directly with suppliers and manufacturers, assessing capabilities and confidently challenging technical information where required. Experience identifying, evaluating and developing new supplier relationships to support product development and commercial manufacturing. Understanding of product development and how material choices impact manufacturing, durability, user needs and sustainability. Experience conducting supplier visits, technical reviews and capability assessments. Strong commercial awareness, including material costs, tooling, MOQs, lead times, development costs and supply risks. Excellent planning, prioritisation, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects independently. Comfortable travelling to supplier sites in the UK and internationally. Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and Excel. A practical, solutions-focused approach and a genuine interest in turning concepts into manufacturable products. Benefits and Perks Here’s what you can look forward to when you join us: We’re proud to be recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years) – and we work hard to make sure our people genuinely feel it Competitive salary and a discretionary annual bonus 15 work from home days per year or Hybrid working Pension scheme Healthcare Cash Plan – claim back medical, dental and optical costs Perks & rewards platform – access hundreds of deals and discounts Gym discounts through our perks platform Employee Assistance Programme – confidential support when you need it 23 days’ holiday plus UK bank holidays, increasing to 26 with length of service An extra day off for your birthday Loyalty reward for increasing years of service Death in service Learning & Development platform with online courses, certifications and professional development tools to support your career growth Tree planted in your honour when you join – with trees already planted in the UK, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Madagascar Sustainability-focused business – committed to low-carbon operations, renewable energy and recycled materials Regular team socials and events, including summer and Christmas parties Christmas gift Monthly Pizza Friday Free fruit, snacks, hot drinks and cold beverages Refer a friend scheme – £250 reward EV car charging facilities High-quality, modern office environment Free onsite parking / within walking distance from the train station About Pineapple Pineapple is a global leader in designing innovative furniture for challenging environments. Founded in 1975 as a family-run business, we've grown into an international organisation with headquarters in Kent and offices in France, Germany and the USA. With more than 200 employees worldwide, we're passionate about creating furniture that not only looks great and performs exceptionally but also helps create calm, safe and inspiring spaces for the people who use it. We're proud to have been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed. Our Values We're proud of the culture we've built and are looking for someone who shares our values: Teamwork – We work collaboratively, supporting one another and recognising that the best results come from working together. Committed – We take pride in what we do, showing dedication, reliability and a strong work ethic every day. Ownership – We take responsibility for our work, act with integrity and continually look for ways to improve. Positive – We approach challenges with optimism, enthusiasm and a solutions-focused mindset. Responsive – We act quickly, communicate effectively and always strive to exceed customer expectations. If you’re looking for a supportive, people-first workplace where you can grow your career and genuinely enjoy coming to work, you’ll feel right at home with us. Diversity & Inclusion - Pineapple is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. Recruitment agencies: Thank you for your interest in working with Pineapple. We will reach out directly if we require support.