At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for diverse products, ensuring quality and cost efficiency.
- Company: Dynamic company in Hook with a focus on innovation and supplier relationships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising supplier performance and driving improvements.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 45000 £ per year.
Senior Buyer
Salary: £38,000 – £45,000 (depending on experience)
Location: Office-based in Hook with regular supplier site visits
About the Role
We’re looking for a proactive and commercially driven Senior Buyer to take a leading role in managing procurement across a diverse and technically interesting product range.
This is a key position focused on ensuring a reliable supply of components while driving improvements in supplier performance, cost effectiveness, and overall quality.
You’ll take full ownership of supplier relationships—overseeing the onboarding of new vendors, optimising the existing supply base, and building strategic partnerships that support long-term business goals. The product portfolio includes electronic components, motors, fixings, load cells, and other mechanical products.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and nurture strategic partnerships with key suppliers, driving continuous improvements in quality, cost efficiency, and delivery performance.
- Develop a deep understanding of supplier manufacturing processes and commodity markets to anticipate challenges and champion process enhancements aligned with QCD (Quality, Cost, Delivery) objectives.
- Conduct supplier audits, monthly performance reviews, and manage Vendor Scorecards for key partners.
- Identify and mitigate supplier risks, developing robust contingency plans to ensure supply chain resilience.
- Source, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers across the product range, optimising the supply base to support strategic business goals.
- Implement purchasing strategies—manage call-off orders, agree pricing breaks, and oversee supplier stock holding arrangements.
- Collaborate with internal teams to manage non-conforming materials, ensuring corrective actions are documented, implemented, and closed out effectively.
- Benchmark products across multiple suppliers and select appropriate vendors based on QCD performance.
- Maintain efficient stock levels in line with MRP, production, and customer delivery schedules.
- Lead business-wide change initiatives, coordinating cross-functional departments and mitigating commercial risks.
- Drive continuous improvement across procurement processes and systems.
Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience
- Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
- Proven experience in procurement within a low-volume, high-variance manufacturing environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills.
- Experience with SAP is advantageous but not essential.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to build productive relationships at all levels.
- Understanding of procurement best practices and continuous improvement principles.
Behavioural Qualities
- Self-aware, open, and honest in all dealings.
- A proactive change agent with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Resilient, optimistic, and pragmatic under pressure.
- Confident, assertive, and composed.
- Collaborative and solutions-focused, engaging effectively across teams.
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Senior Buyer employer: Mulberry Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Mulberry Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its suppliers. Show us you understand their procurement challenges and how you can help improve their processes. Tailor your answers to highlight your relevant experience!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job openings—reach out directly to companies you admire. A well-crafted email expressing your interest in potential roles can set you apart from the crowd. We love proactive candidates!
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website to apply for roles. It’s super easy, and we’re always looking for talented individuals like you. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Buyer role. Highlight your procurement experience, especially in low-volume, high-variance environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your negotiation skills and supplier management experience. Let us know why you're passionate about procurement and how you can drive improvements at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; highlight your achievements! Share specific examples of how you've improved supplier performance or reduced costs. We love seeing results that demonstrate your impact.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mulberry Recruitment
✨Know Your Suppliers
Before the interview, research the key suppliers relevant to the role. Understand their strengths and weaknesses, and be ready to discuss how you would build and nurture these relationships. This shows your proactive approach and commercial drive.
✨Master QCD Objectives
Familiarise yourself with Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD) objectives. Be prepared to share examples from your past experience where you've successfully improved these areas. This will demonstrate your understanding of procurement best practices and your ability to drive continuous improvement.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Think of specific instances where you've negotiated successfully with suppliers. Highlight your strategies and the outcomes. This is crucial for a Senior Buyer role, and it will illustrate your strong negotiation skills and commercial acumen.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your behavioural qualities, such as resilience and collaboration. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, showcasing how you've been a proactive change agent in previous roles.