Job Title: Junior Buyer – Food & Ingredients Salary: Up to £30,000 + Benefits (dependant on experience) Location: Leeds Head Office (with UK travel) About the Role We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Junior Buyer to join our Procurement team within a fast-paced, multi-site food manufacturing business. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of key ingredient categories within a £70M procurement function, supporting a high-volume operation across 7 manufacturing sites. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring continuity of supply, driving cost efficiencies, and maintaining strong supplier performance. What You’ll Be Doing * Managing procurement of food ingredients and raw materials across defined categories * Negotiating pricing, contracts, and commercial terms with suppliers * Building and maintaining strong supplier relationships, ensuring performance on cost, quality, and delivery * Identifying and delivering cost-saving initiatives * Monitoring market trends and managing supply risks * Supporting New Product Development (NPD) through sourcing of new ingredients * Ensuring compliance with food safety, regulatory, and customer standards * Working cross-functionally with Technical, Operations, Logistics, and Commercial teams * Managing procurement data and systems (SAGE MRP or equivalent) What We’re Looking For Essential: * Proven experience in a Buyer/Procurement * role within food manufacturing or FMCG * Strong negotiation and commercial skills * Experience managing significant spend and supplier portfolios * Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment * Strong organisational and stakeholder management skills * Experience with MRP/ERP systems (SAGE or similar) and Microsoft Office * Full UK Driving Licence * Right to work in the UK Desirable: * Experience sourcing across UK and EU markets * Knowledge of commodity-driven ingredient markets * Understanding of food safety standards (e.g. BRC, HACCP) * MCIPS qualification (or working towards) What Success Looks Like * Delivery of cost savings against targets * Consistent continuity of supply to manufacturing sites * Strong supplier performance (OTIF, quality compliance) * Accurate and efficient procurement processes Why Join Us? * Be part of a well-established, growing food manufacturing business * Work within a large-scale, complex supply chain environment * Opportunity to influence supplier strategy and category performance * Collaborative, cross-functional working culture If you're a proactive Buyer who thrives on pace, ownership, and making a tangible commercial impact — we’d love to hear from you
Junior Buyer in Rothwell employer: David Wood Baking Ltd
David Wood Baking is an exceptional employer that values its employees and fosters a supportive work culture. With a commitment to employee recognition, ongoing training, and clear pathways for career progression, we ensure that our team members feel appreciated and empowered to grow within the company. Located in a vibrant area, we offer competitive benefits including free on-site parking, a pension scheme, and opportunities for financial rewards based on innovative ideas, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about food production.
