At a Glance
- Tasks: Support sourcing and supply of products, negotiate with suppliers, and manage purchase orders.
- Company: Join Macfarlane Packaging, a leader in sustainable packaging solutions with over 75 years of experience.
- Benefits: Up to £30,000 salary, 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Opportunities for internal progression and support for professional qualifications like CIPS.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career in procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing, strong communication skills, and ability to thrive in a dynamic setting.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 € per year.
Location: Sudbury (Chilton Industrial Estate)
Package: Up to £30,000 annual salary plus bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)
Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday
Sector: Packaging distribution
Protecting what matters, together. We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most – our people, our customers, our communities, and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a collaborative, supportive, and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows.
With over 75 years of history, we offer stability alongside continued growth. Our fast‑paced, results‑driven environment will challenge and stretch you, but also provide genuine opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to influence our success and share in that achievement.
The Buyer Role: As our Buyer within our local procurement team, you’ll play a key role in supporting the efficient sourcing and supply of products to meet customer demand, sales targets, and profitability objectives. Working closely with internal teams and suppliers, you’ll ensure stock is sourced competitively, delivered on time, and meets required quality standards. You’ll also contribute to the ongoing development of the supplier base, helping to drive cost efficiencies, improve service levels, and support wider procurement strategy. This is a varied and commercially focused role, offering exposure to supplier negotiation, stock management, and supply chain optimisation within a fast‑paced distribution environment.
Key responsibilities:
- Support the management and development of the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) supplier base
- Negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels with suppliers to ensure best value and performance
- Process and manage purchase orders, ensuring timely and cost‑effective procurement activity
- Work closely with the Category Manager and Procurement Manager to align with wider procurement strategy
- Source alternative suppliers where required to reduce risk and improve competitiveness
- Monitor supplier performance, addressing any quality or service issues promptly
- Support tender processes to secure favourable commercial terms
- Develop awareness of stock holding costs and take action to minimise excess or obsolete stock
- Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to optimise stock availability and flow
- Build strong product knowledge across packaging solutions
- Promote effective cross‑functional working across departments and RDCs
What you will bring:
You’ll ideally have experience within a fast‑paced purchasing or procurement environment and be confident working with suppliers, managing priorities, and supporting commercial decision‑making.
Essential:
- Experience within a purchasing or procurement role
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Ability to prioritise workload within a fast‑paced environment
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
Desirable:
- 18+ months buying experience within a commercial environment
- Experience working with multiple product lines and supplier bases
- Familiarity with systems such as ERP/SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or similar
- CIPS qualification (or interest in working towards this)
- Experience of cross‑functional working with sales, logistics, or operations
What you will get:
We provide a competitive basic salary alongside a range of bonus and incentive schemes. Our flexible benefits package can include:
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus bank holidays
- Additional holiday purchasing scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Free parking at most locations
- Annual volunteering day
- Employee assistance programme
- Extensive training and development opportunities
- Employee discount scheme
- Simply Health/Dental or BUPA options for qualifying roles
- Enhanced HR policies and long service awards
- EE mobile discount scheme
- Candidate referral scheme
Your future with us:
At Macfarlane Group, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your own career. We actively support internal progression and provide structured development pathways, combining in‑house expertise with external training partners. You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue professional development through recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), helping you to build a long‑term career within procurement and supply chain.
Equal Opportunities:
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.
Buyer employer: Macfarlane Group UK Ltd
At Macfarlane Packaging, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the well-being of our employees. With a competitive salary, flexible benefits, and extensive training opportunities, we empower our team members to grow both personally and professionally in a fast-paced environment. Located in Sudbury, our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction ensures that every colleague can contribute to meaningful projects while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. 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 culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen those skills before your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at Macfarlane Packaging.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role. Highlight your experience in purchasing or procurement, and don’t forget to showcase your negotiation skills. 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 explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our values at Macfarlane Packaging. Let us know what matters to you!
Showcase Relevant Experience:When filling out your application, be sure to highlight any relevant experience you have in fast-paced environments. We love candidates who can manage priorities and work well under pressure, so let that shine through!
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 the role. Plus, it’s super easy – just a few clicks and you’re done!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macfarlane Group UK Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you brush up on your knowledge of procurement and supply chain management. Familiarise yourself with key terms and concepts related to sourcing, stock management, and supplier negotiation. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Since the Buyer role involves negotiating with suppliers, be prepared to discuss your past experiences in this area. Think of specific examples where you successfully negotiated terms or resolved issues. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your approach during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork
Collaboration is key in this role, so be ready to share examples of how you've worked effectively with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve collaborated with logistics, sales, or operations to achieve a common goal, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the company’s procurement strategy, how they measure supplier performance, or what challenges the team is currently facing. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
