Senior Buyer in Stonehouse

BMR Solutions are delighted to be recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced Senior Buyer to join a well-established manufacturing business based in Stonehouse. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to take ownership of a key purchasing function within a busy manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring production is supplied with the right materials at the right time, whilst maintaining lean inventory levels, developing supplier relationships and driving purchasing performance.

This is a varied, hands-on position that combines strategic procurement with day-to-day operational buying. Working closely with Production, Planning, Engineering and Quality, you will ensure material availability, support new product introductions and engineering changes, manage supplier performance and mentor a Buying Administrator.

The Role

As Senior Buyer, you will take ownership of the end-to-end purchasing process, ensuring materials are available to support production while balancing stock levels, lead times and working capital. You will work collaboratively across the business to support operational requirements whilst identifying opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency, reduce supply risk and deliver value through effective supplier management.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full purchasing lifecycle using MRP and ERP systems to ensure uninterrupted supply to production.
• Review MRP outputs and purchasing reports, placing orders that balance material availability, inventory levels and cash flow.
• Continuously review purchasing activity to optimise order quantities, pricing and lead times.
• Proactively identify potential shortages and take decisive action whilst reducing reactive firefighting through effective forward planning.
• Lead procurement activities for New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring smooth transitions between existing and new products while minimising obsolete stock.
• Manage purchasing aspects of Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), working closely with Engineering, Quality and suppliers.
• Build, develop and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities, lead times and supply agreements.
• Monitor supplier performance including delivery, quality and responsiveness, driving continuous improvement where required.
• Identify and manage supplier risk, including developing dual-source strategies where appropriate.
• Manage component obsolescence in partnership with Engineering teams.
• Attend production planning and shortage meetings, ensuring purchasing priorities remain aligned with manufacturing requirements.
• Lead, support and develop a Buying Administrator, providing guidance, mentoring and oversight of day-to-day buying activities.

About You

To be successful in this role you will have previous buying or procurement experience gained within a manufacturing or production environment and be comfortable managing both strategic supplier relationships and operational purchasing activities. You will also demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a Buyer, Senior Buyer or Procurement position within manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of MRP systems and purchasing processes.
• Experience using ERP systems (experience of Solvitt/EDSL would be advantageous but is not essential).
• Excellent stock management skills with the ability to balance inventory, availability and working capital.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) from a supply chain or procurement perspective.
• Understanding of ECN and NCR processes within manufacturing.
• Strong supplier management and commercial negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to distinguish genuine urgency from routine tasks.
• A proactive approach with the resilience to respond effectively to changing business demands.
• Previous experience supervising, mentoring or developing junior purchasing staff would be advantageous.
• Strong communication, analytical and relationship-building skills.
• CIPS qualification, or working towards one, would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Willingness to undertake occasional supplier visits.

What's on Offer

• Circa £45,000 salary.
• Opportunity to join a well-established and growing manufacturing business.
• A varied role combining strategic procurement with hands-on operational buying.
• The opportunity to influence supplier performance, inventory strategy and purchasing processes.
• Supportive working environment with genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Comprehensive company benefits package.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Our client is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Right to Work

Please note that our client is unable to offer sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK at the time of application.

Recruitment Statement

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