At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage materials, optimise suppliers, and support operational excellence in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading recruitment consultancy with over 40 years of experience.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Ideal for quick thinkers who thrive under pressure and enjoy problem-solving.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on supplier performance and drive improvements in a collaborative setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or supply chain, strong analytical skills, and a positive attitude.
Location: Leicester
Hourly Rate: £17.31
Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:00
Employment Type: Full-time ongoing temporary
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and detail driven Buyer / Procurement Specialist to join a fast paced Supply Chain team. You will play a key role in managing material availability, optimising supplier performance, and supporting operational excellence across the business. This role is ideal for someone who thrives under pressure, communicates confidently, and enjoys working cross functionally to solve problems and deliver results.
Key Responsibilities
- Material & Order Management
- Evaluates and acts upon MRP requirements, generating and adjusting purchase orders to meet demand levels.
- Inputs, maintains, and updates ERP transactions to ensure data accuracy and system integrity.
- Handles quotes, places POs, and follows up with suppliers, managing PO related issues and schedule changes.
- Expedites and de-expedites materials to maintain optimal inventory levels.
- Supplier Management & Communication
- Communicates forecast requirements clearly to suppliers while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships.
- Objectively measures and reports supplier performance to support continuous improvement.
- Works closely with Suppliers, Quality, Strategic Sourcing, and Engineering to resolve quality, delivery, and cost issues quickly.
- Manages challenging or sensitive supplier conversations with professionalism and confidence.
- Inventory, Cost & Process Improvement
- Drives increased inventory turns, reduced cycle times, and improved customer OTD through pull based replenishment processes, including VMI and consignment stock.
- Supports initiatives to eliminate excess and obsolete stock and rationalise similar parts.
- Participates in Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen events to reduce waste and improve performance across the supply chain.
- Cross Functional Support
- Provides effective support to New Product Introduction (NPI) teams, proposal development, and subcontracting opportunities.
- Ensures timely resolution of shipping discrepancies, receiving errors, invoice issues, and PO adjustments.
- Engenders a spirit of cooperation across the supply chain to ensure responsiveness to customer needs.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong analytical, problem solving and fact based decision making skills.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively under pressure.
- Confident negotiator with the ability to manage complex or sensitive discussions.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across all levels.
- A positive, resilient, can do attitude with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Quick thinker with sound judgement in fast moving environments.
Experience & Qualifications
- Relevant experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations is essential.
- Previous experience in a Buyer or similar operational procurement role is strongly preferred.
- Engineering or manufacturing background is strongly preferred.
- Experience working with ERP systems (SAP desirable) and managing POs in a fast paced environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, MS Project).
- Undergraduate degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering, or related field (preferred but not essential).
- Supply Chain or CIPS certification is highly desirable.
- Engineering or manufacturing background-particularly in the electronics field-is advantageous.
- Understanding of procurement and supply chain processes, inventory control concepts, safety stock, replenishment, and VMI (advantageous).
- Willingness to learn, develop, and take ownership of initiatives with moderate scope and impact.
This role offers a great opportunity to influence supplier performance and drive meaningful improvements whilst working within a collaborative, cross functional environment.
Press 'APPLY' now to start your application.
Kinetic plc is a Recruitment Consultancy with over 40 years of experience of delivering staffing solutions to the engineering, manufacturing and technical industries.
Kinetic plc treats all applications with a high degree of care, we review all submissions and will attempt to contact applicants who match the job profile. Those that do not meet the specification may not be contacted but their CV retained to be considered against future opportunities.
Buyer / Procurement Specialist in Leicester employer: Kinetic plc
Kinetic plc is an excellent employer for a Buyer / Procurement Specialist, offering a dynamic work environment in Leicester where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides opportunities for professional development and encourages a proactive approach to problem-solving within a supportive team culture. Employees benefit from competitive hourly rates, a structured work schedule, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on supplier performance and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer / Procurement Specialist in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the supply chain and procurement sectors. You never know who might have a lead on a Buyer role or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its suppliers. Show them you understand their challenges and how you can help optimise supplier performance and manage material availability.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you'll need to handle complex discussions with suppliers. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to build your confidence.
✨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 proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer / Procurement Specialist in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in purchasing and procurement. We want to see how your skills match the Buyer / Procurement Specialist role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for our fast-paced Supply Chain team. Share specific examples of how you've managed supplier relationships or improved processes.
Showcase Your Skills:Highlight your analytical and problem-solving skills in your application. We’re looking for someone who can think on their feet and manage complex discussions, so make sure to include any relevant experiences that demonstrate these abilities.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity as a Buyer / Procurement Specialist!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetic plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Buyer / Procurement Specialist, you'll be dealing with data and metrics all the time. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data to make decisions in past roles. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you optimised inventory levels or improved supplier performance.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Negotiation is key in procurement. Think about times when you've had to negotiate terms with suppliers or resolve conflicts. Practise articulating your approach and the outcomes. Show them you can handle sensitive discussions with professionalism and confidence.
✨Showcase Your ERP Experience
Since experience with ERP systems like SAP is desirable, be ready to talk about your familiarity with these tools. Highlight any specific projects where you managed purchase orders or maintained data accuracy. If you have examples of how you improved processes using these systems, even better!
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with different departments in the past. Share examples that illustrate your strong interpersonal skills and how you influenced others to achieve common goals.
