At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a procurement team, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost and quality improvements.
- Company: Established manufacturing organisation in a high-performance, regulated environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and the chance to influence key decisions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on procurement strategy and operational performance.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement leadership and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Senior Buyer who enjoys leading teams, building strong supplier relationships and driving cost, quality and delivery improvements? If you thrive in a regulated manufacturing environment and like having real ownership of procurement strategy and performance, this could be an excellent next step.
We are supporting a well-established manufacturing organisation based in Segensworth, operating in a high-performance, regulated environment. This is a key leadership role within the production and supply chain function, with responsibility for people, suppliers and continuous improvement across site purchasing activities.
As the Senior Buyer, you'll lead and manage the site procurement team, ensuring purchasing activities support operational performance, cost control and business growth. You'll balance strategic supplier management with hands-on operational control, while promoting a strong continuous improvement culture.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Leading, developing and performance-managing the procurement team
- Owning all site purchasing activity across production and projects
- Managing suppliers, risk and technical purchasing in line with business strategy
- Ensuring demand, inventory and open orders are controlled effectively
- Supporting new product introduction through proactive project purchasing
- Driving cost reduction, lead-time improvement and savings initiatives
- Negotiating contracts, LTAs and improved commercial terms
- Promoting Supplier Relationship Management and mitigating supply chain risk
- Supporting SIOP, MRP adherence and on-time delivery performance
- Preparing and presenting procurement data, KPIs and improvement plans
- Driving lean, continuous improvement and tiered accountability
This is a visible, influential role where your decisions directly impact Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People.
To succeed as a Senior Buyer, you'll bring:
- Experience leading a buying or procurement team in a regulated manufacturing environment
- Strong commercial awareness and negotiation capability
- Background in manufacturing procurement (aerospace or high-mix, low-volume ideal)
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems and technical data
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
- Strong leadership, coaching and change-management skills
- Confidence influencing stakeholders at all levels
- Lean / continuous improvement experience
Essential qualifications:
- CIPS Level 4 (or equivalent experience)
- Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Business or related discipline
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Desirable:
- CIPS Level 5
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
If you're an experienced Senior Buyer looking for a leadership role with influence and progression, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today or contact me for a confidential discussion.
Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Senior Buyer in Fareham employer: Kingdom People
Contact Detail:
Kingdom People Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer in Fareham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the lookout for a Senior Buyer role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in a regulated manufacturing environment. Show them you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Buyer, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate contracts and improve commercial terms. Role-play scenarios with friends or colleagues to build confidence before those big interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect match for your skills. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer in Fareham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Buyer role. Highlight your leadership experience, procurement achievements, and any relevant qualifications like CIPS. 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 procurement and how your background in regulated manufacturing makes you the perfect fit. Be sure to mention specific examples of your successes in supplier management and cost reduction.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on quantifiable achievements. Did you lead a project that saved costs or improved delivery times? We love numbers, so share those stats to demonstrate your impact in previous roles!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to upload your tailored CV and cover letter in one go. Let’s get your application rolling!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kingdom People
✨Know Your Procurement Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the company's procurement strategy and how it aligns with their operational goals. Be ready to discuss how your experience in leading teams and managing supplier relationships can contribute to their objectives.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and coaching abilities. Discuss specific instances where you've developed a procurement team or driven continuous improvement initiatives, as this role heavily focuses on people management and performance.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Brush up on your negotiation skills and be prepared to talk about your approach to managing suppliers and contracts. Highlight any successful cost reduction or lead-time improvement projects you've led, as these are key aspects of the Senior Buyer role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Technical Data
Since the role involves interpreting engineering drawings and working with ERP/MRP systems, ensure you're comfortable discussing technical data. Bring examples of how you've used this knowledge to support procurement decisions in a regulated manufacturing environment.