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.
- Benefits: Up to £35,000 salary, 27 days holiday, flexible benefits, and professional development.
- Other info: Opportunities for internal progression and professional qualifications like CIPS.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while growing your career in procurement.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing, strong communication skills, and good IT proficiency.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
Location: Fareham (Midpoint 27 Business Park)
Package: Up to £35,000 annual salary (dependent on experience) 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 the 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.
Next Steps / How to Apply:
We are working swiftly to find the best applicants and hope to hold local interviews ASAP. Please click ‘apply’ to submit your up-to-date CV. All applications will be acknowledged. If you haven’t heard from us within two weeks, please assume your application was unsuccessful. 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. No recruitment agencies please.
Buyer in Fareham 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. Located in Fareham, our team enjoys a competitive salary, flexible benefits, and ample opportunities for personal and professional growth, including structured development pathways and support for pursuing professional qualifications. Join us to be part of a company with over 75 years of history, where your contributions directly impact our success and sustainability efforts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Fareham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend local events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 values. Understand their approach to procurement and packaging distribution, so you can show how your skills align with their goals. We want to see that you’re genuinely interested!
✨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 seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Macfarlane Packaging.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Fareham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Buyer role. Highlight any relevant procurement or purchasing experience, and don’t forget to mention your negotiation skills!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for our team. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships or improved stock management in the past.
Showcase Your IT Skills:Since good IT skills are essential, make sure to mention your proficiency with Microsoft Office and any experience with ERP systems. This will help us see how you can hit the ground running!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the quickest way for us to receive your application, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Macfarlane Group UK Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you research Macfarlane Packaging and understand their commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction. Familiarise yourself with the packaging distribution sector and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their values and goals.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
As a Buyer, negotiation is key. Prepare examples of past negotiations you've successfully handled. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to secure the best value and performance from suppliers, as this will be crucial in the role.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment. Prepare to discuss how you would handle supplier performance issues or stock management challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Inquire about the team dynamics, the procurement strategy, or how success is measured in the Buyer role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.
