At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage purchasing and supplier relationships to ensure smooth operations.
- Company: Join Birds Bakery, a family-owned business with over 100 years of heritage.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive environment, and opportunities for impact.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that values quality and innovation in food production.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and analytical mindset.
The predicted salary is between 42750 - 52250 £ per year.
- Careers Buyer
- Buyer
Location
Derby
Department
Procurement / Bakery Operations
Hours
40 hours Monday to Friday
Salary
- £33,000.00-£37,000.00
- Join a Midlands Success Story
At Birds Bakery, we've been creating delicious products and serving our communities since 1919.
As a proudly independent, family-owned business, we're passionate about combining traditional baking expertise with modern manufacturing and retail operations.
As we continue to grow and evolve, we're looking for an experienced and commercially minded Buyer to join our Procurement team in Derby.
This is an exciting opportunity for a procurement professional who enjoys building strong supplier relationships, negotiating value, analysing data, and ensuring the smooth supply of materials that keep a busy manufacturing operation running.
- Location
- Bakery, Derby, Ascot Drive, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 8GN
- Employment Type
- Full-time
- Hours
- Salary
- Purpose
As Buyer, you will play a critical role in ensuring that Birds Bakery has the right ingredients, packaging and operational supplies available at the right time, quality and cost.
Working closely with colleagues across Operations, Production, Technical, Finance and Logistics, you'll manage day-to-day purchasing activities whilst supporting wider procurement strategies that drive efficiency, quality and service across the business.
In a food manufacturing environment, effective procurement is vital.
Your decisions will directly impact product availability, supplier performance, stock management, cost control and customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
- Purchasing & Supply Management
- Manage the purchasing of ingredients, packaging, uniforms and operational supplies.
- Raise and manage purchase orders accurately and efficiently.
- Monitor stock levels and ensure materials are available to support production requirements.
- Track outstanding orders and proactively resolve supply issues.
- Manage minimum and maximum stock levels to minimise waste and excess inventory.
- Support contingency planning for key ingredients and materials.
- Supplier Management
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers.
- Monitor supplier performance, including quality, service levels, pricing and delivery reliability.
- Resolve supply, delivery and commercial issues effectively.
- Support supplier reviews and identify opportunities to improve performance and resilience.
- Work closely with Technical and Quality teams to ensure suppliers meet required standards.
- Commercial & Cost Management
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules and contractual arrangements.
- Monitor commodity and ingredient pricing trends.
- Identify opportunities to reduce costs whilst maintaining quality and service.
- Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations.
- Support ongoing and annual price negotiations.
- Maintain accurate supplier and pricing information within company systems.
- New Product Development
- Source ingredients, packaging and materials for new product launches.
- Evaluate new suppliers and sourcing opportunities.
- Support trials and product launches by ensuring materials are available when required.
- Work collaboratively with Technical and NPD teams to meet required specifications.
- Reporting & Analysis
- Produce regular procurement reports and purchasing analysis.
- Monitor spend, supplier performance and pricing movements.
- Analyse purchasing trends and identify improvement opportunities.
- Ensure ERP/MRP system data remains accurate and up to date.
- Food Safety & Compliance
- Support supplier onboarding and approval processes.
- Ensure purchasing decisions align with food safety, quality and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain supplier documentation and traceability records.
- Escalate and resolve supplier quality or compliance concerns.
- Waste Management
- Monitor waste contracts and arrange collections.
- Control and report waste data on a monthly basis.
Responsibilities
About You
We're looking for someone who understands that great procurement is about much more than securing the lowest price.
You'll be focused on value, quality, supplier partnerships and operational continuity whilst delivering strong commercial results.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Previous experience in a buying, procurement or purchasing role (ideally within the food industry).
- Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
- Excellent organisational and communication skills.
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong analytical skills with confidence working with data.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Experience using ERP/MRP systems.
- Understanding of stock management and demand planning.
- Ability to manage multiple suppliers, priorities and deadlines.
- Strong relationship-building skills across internal and external stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, bakery or retail environments.
- Experience purchasing food ingredients or packaging.
- Knowledge of food safety, supplier approval and compliance processes.
- Experience managing commodity or volatile ingredient pricing.
- Experience with supplier reviews and contract negotiations.
- Shifts
Monday to Friday - 40 hours per week, shift pattern negotiable.
Experience
- What You'll Bring
- Commercially minded and value-focused.
- Proactive in identifying and solving supply challenges.
- Confident negotiating with suppliers.
- Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
- Analytical and data-driven in your decision-making.
- Collaborative and able to work effectively across departments.
- Resilient under pressure and adaptable to change.
- Focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- You’ll Be
- Commercially minded and value-focused.
- Proactive in identifying and solving supply challenges.
- Confident negotiating with suppliers.
- Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
- Analytical and data-driven in your decision-making.
- Collaborative and able to work effectively across departments.
- Resilient under pressure and adaptable to change.
- Focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Why Join Birds Bakery?
At Birds Bakery, you'll be joining a business with over 100 years of heritage, a strong reputation for quality, and ambitious plans for the future.
We offer the opportunity to work in a supportive and collaborative environment where your contribution will have a direct impact on the success of our products, operations and customers.
Ready to help shape the future of procurement at Birds Bakery? We'd love to hear from you!
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Buyer employer: Birds
At B Birds, we pride ourselves on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for both our customers and employees. As a Sunday Bakery Sales Specialist in Nottingham, you'll enjoy a supportive work culture that values friendly service and product knowledge, alongside benefits like staff discounts and flexible working hours. We are committed to your growth with comprehensive training and opportunities to develop your skills in a vibrant bakery setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Birds.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Birds:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Birds. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Birds.
How to prepare for a job interview at Birds
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Birds!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Birds. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Birds's culture.
