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- Tasks: Manage procurement of food ingredients and negotiate with suppliers for cost efficiencies.
- Company: Join a growing food manufacturing business with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £40,000 plus benefits and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact in a fast-paced environment while influencing supplier strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement within food manufacturing and strong negotiation skills.
- Other info: Work across a complex supply chain and enjoy cross-functional collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Salary: Up to £40,000 + Benefits (dependant on experience)
Location: Leeds Head Office (with UK travel)
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven 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.
Buyer – Food & Ingredients in Leeds employer: David Wood Foods Ltd
Contact Detail:
David Wood Foods Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer – Food & Ingredients in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local food and procurement 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 suppliers. Show us that you understand their procurement challenges and how you can help drive cost efficiencies and maintain strong supplier performance.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Whether it’s with friends or through role-playing, being able to confidently discuss pricing and contracts will set you apart as a Buyer who can deliver results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer – Food & Ingredients in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Buyer role. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing and procurement, especially any achievements in cost savings or supplier management. 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 tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your skills align with what we’re looking for. Don’t forget to mention any relevant experience with MRP/ERP systems like SAGE.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since negotiation is key in this role, give examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. We love seeing how you’ve driven cost efficiencies and built strong supplier relationships!
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 get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at David Wood Foods Ltd
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of food ingredients and raw materials. Understand the current market trends and be ready to discuss how you can leverage this knowledge to drive cost efficiencies and ensure continuity of supply.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations you've successfully led. Be specific about the strategies you used and the outcomes achieved. This will demonstrate your strong commercial skills and ability to manage significant spend effectively.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you’ve built and maintained supplier relationships in previous roles. Be ready to share your approach to ensuring strong supplier performance and how you handle challenges in these relationships.
✨Familiarise with Compliance Standards
Make sure you understand food safety standards like BRC and HACCP. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance in procurement processes and how this impacts supplier selection and management.