At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage procurement for a leading food manufacturer and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Successful BRC AA Graded food manufacturer known for quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make an impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and knowledge of food safety standards.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative environment with excellent career advancement potential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
This role is working for a successful BRC AA Graded food manufacturer. The company produces high-quality food products and exceptional service - enabling their food manufacturing customers to innovate and increase productivity without compromising on quality.
The purpose of your role will be a commercially astute Buyer responsible for managing both direct and indirect procurement across food manufacturing sites. You will define category strategies, secure reliable supply, and work closely with Operations, NPD, Technical and Finance to deliver quality, value and service. This is a hands-on role suited to someone confident, assertive and skilled in negotiation, supplier partnership building and driving continuous improvement.
Key tasks
- Be responsible for developing and delivering category strategies across key spend areas, negotiating pricing and terms, and securing year-on-year savings and value improvements.
- Manage supplier selection and onboarding, lead sourcing events and contract negotiations, and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure reliable service, quality and risk control.
- Continually ensure materials are always available by analysing demand, coordinating with logistics and operations, and managing inventory to prevent shortages or excess, while reducing waste.
- Work closely with marketing, sales, NPD and commercial teams to ensure product choices, specifications, trials and new launches support promotional plans and overall business goals.
- Oversee compliance with food safety, ethical and sustainability standards, ensuring full traceability and maintaining relevant certifications such as BRCGS/retailer codes, HACCP/traceability, allergens.
- Monitor markets and cost drivers and support business continuity through dual sourcing, capacity checks and incident readiness.
- Use data to inform decisions by developing costed BOMs, KPI dashboards and monthly performance updates for senior leadership.
- Improve the procure-to-pay process through better compliance, cleaner data and accurate invoice matching.
- Continuously enhance procurement performance and support operational efficiency, commercial delivery and long-term value creation across the business.
About You
The successful candidate shall have proven procurement experience in food manufacturing or FMCG, with strong negotiation, tendering and supplier management skills. Have a good understanding of food safety, quality and technical standards and are commercially sharp, confident with costed BOMs, TCO thinking and advanced Excel and ERP/MRP use. You ideally hold or are working toward CIPS and have a degree or equivalent experience. You are an effective cross-functional partner with strong stakeholder influence and the ability to present confidently to senior leadership.
The Buyer job (ref:8985) is paying £40,000 to £50,000 according to your experience. The working hours are Monday to Friday usual office hours with 3 days a week expected on site and 2 days working remotely. The site is in Greater Manchester and is commutable from Manchester, Bolton, Warrington, Preston, Ormskirk, Wigan, St Helens, Chorley and Bury, along with other areas of Lancashire and Merseyside.
Buyer - Hybrid employer: b3 jobs
Contact Detail:
b3 jobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Hybrid
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to secure the best deals. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen those skills before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Hybrid
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role. Highlight your procurement experience in food manufacturing or FMCG, and showcase your negotiation skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of your past successes in supplier management and category strategies that align with what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your technical skills, especially your proficiency with Excel and ERP/MRP systems. We love data-driven decision-making, so any experience with costed BOMs or KPI dashboards will definitely catch our eye!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at b3 jobs
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Buyer, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Brush up on your costed BOMs and KPI dashboards before the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led. Think about specific instances where you secured savings or improved supplier relationships. This will demonstrate your confidence and assertiveness in procurement.
✨Understand Food Safety Standards
Familiarise yourself with BRCGS, HACCP, and other relevant food safety standards. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in previous roles, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Cross-Functional Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with different teams like Operations, NPD, and Finance. Prepare to share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and contributed to business goals through collaboration.