Senior Buyer – Manufacturing & Engineering

Senior Buyer – Manufacturing & Engineering

We are looking for an experienced manufacturing and engineering buyer to join work in a fast-paced volume production environment, taking responsibility for supplier performance, cost reduction and purchasing activities at plant level.

Working closely with Commodity Buyers, Quality, Manufacturing and the Regional Purchasing Director, you will play a key role in improving Quality, Cost and Delivery performance while ensuring the plant’s purchasing requirements are delivered effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain strong commercial relationships with suppliers.
• Work with Commodity Buyers, the Regional Purchasing Director and plant teams to develop and deliver the purchasing budget in line with QCD and corporate targets.
• Identify and deliver purchasing productivity and cost‑saving initiatives.
• Work closely with suppliers to achieve manufacturing cost reductions through Value Analysis and Value Engineering, product productivity and other cost optimisation activities.
• Drive agreed supplier savings through to implementation within the plant.
• Monitor and report purchasing performance, ensuring savings and results align with company P&L expectations.
• Manage allocated supplier accounts, working alongside Supplier Performance and Supplier Quality teams to ensure compliance
• Partner with the quality team regarding the introduction and purchase of new materials.
• Raise and manage purchase orders and supply contracts.
• Maintain purchasing systems and support procurement data requirements associated with SAP.
• Resolve supplier pricing and invoice discrepancies, including authorising payments where appropriate.
• Manage non‑production/indirect purchasing for the plant, identifying cost reductions and implementing corporate contracts and purchasing policies.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with relevant Health & Safety requirements.

We’d be keen to speak with candidates who have:

• Previous purchasing/buyer experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment, ideally FMCG
• Strong supplier management and commercial negotiation skills.
• A demonstrable track record of delivering cost savings and purchasing productivity improvements.
• Experience working with Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Engineering teams.
• Good understanding of QCD and supplier performance management.
• Experience with ERP/purchasing systems, with SAP experience particularly useful.
• Exposure to Value Analysis and & Engineering, cost‑down or manufacturing productivity projects.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• The confidence to challenge suppliers and internal stakeholders while maintaining productive working relationships.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to take ownership of purchasing activity at plant level
• Strong exposure to supplier development, cost reduction and operational procurement
• Cross‑functional role working closely with Purchasing, Quality, Engineering and Manufacturing teams

Benefits:

• Bonus: up to 10% of salary paid out annually
• Death in service : 4 x salary
• 25 days holiday, plus your birthday as a paid day off
• Option to purchase up to 5 extra days holiday each year
• Flexitime
• Employee benefits package Eyecare and vouchers
• Occupational Health and Physiotherapy support
• Retail discounts
• Enhanced company Sick Pay
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay

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