Senior Buyer

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Senior Buyer to join our Purchasing team.

This is a newly created role where you will play a key part in maintaining the continuous supply of goods, materials and services while improving supplier performance, commercial outcomes and purchasing processes.

Working closely with the Purchasing Director, you will lead strategic sourcing and category management activity, develop supplier relationships and help drive improvements across the purchasing function.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain the continuous supply of goods, materials and services to the business.

• Lead category management activity and ensure purchase orders are created accurately and on time.

• Interpret material requirements and demand across different areas of the business.

• Work with suppliers to agree requirements and delivery dates, resolve issues and drive continuous improvement.

• Negotiate commercial terms and deliver value through effective sourcing decisions.

• Monitor market trends, supplier capability and opportunities to develop new suppliers.

• Manage supplier relationships through structured performance reviews and address underperformance.

• Support and deliver departmental strategies that drive improvements across the supplier base.

• Develop and monitor KPIs, contributing to departmental reporting and stakeholder engagement.

• Improve purchasing processes, reporting and data-led decision-making.

• Provide practical support with complex supplier and supply issues.

• Mentor colleagues, develop team capability and deputise for the Purchasing Director when required.

About You

You will be a resilient, decisive and commercially astute procurement professional, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

You will be able to balance attention to detail with a strategic approach, build effective stakeholder relationships and turn analysis into practical improvements.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Level 6 qualification.

• Substantial procurement or purchasing experience, ideally within a manufacturing environment.

• 15–20 years' experience within a procurement or purchasing function.

• Strong strategic sourcing experience, including overseas sourcing.

• Experience within manufacturing sectors such as metal fabrication, timber or plastics would be particularly beneficial.

• Excellent negotiation, commercial and analytical skills.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.

• Proven ability to build and manage effective supplier relationships.

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desirable Experience

• A degree in business, engineering or a related discipline.

• Working knowledge of Sage.

• Knowledge of steel, timber and plastics markets.

• Experience of category management and leading or managing teams.

• A track record of coaching and developing colleagues with different levels of experience and capability.

What's on Offer?

• Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm

• 25 days' annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.

• Discretionary annual profit scheme.

• Newly created position with the opportunity to influence purchasing strategy and processes.

• The opportunity to work closely with the Purchasing Director and support the continued development of the purchasing team.

• A key role in shaping supplier relationships and delivering commercial improvements across the business.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent