Senior Food Buyer

Procurement Heads’ Consumer team are seeking an experiencedSenior Buyer to join a multiple award winning organisation that is one of the leaders in the retail food sector with recognisable products on the shelves of major retailers.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and ambitious Senior Buyer with strong food procurement experience, ideally from a retail or FMCG background. The business is entering a new phase of growth, and this role has been designed with succession into the Head of Procurement firmly in mind.
Based in Surreyoffice (Minutes from Junction 8 of the M25)
Monday–Thursday on site with Friday work from home.
The ideal Senior Buyer will have significant experience in strategic procurement, working withinternational food suppliers , negotiating complex deals, and leading or mentoring teams. This is a highly commercial role, and we\’re looking for someone ready to step into leadership over time.
This organisation is a fast-growing player in thefood and beverage sector, supplying a diverse range of products to well-known UK retailers.
Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Procurement: Source and purchase from international manufacturers. Work with an established supply base while identifying, reviewing, and onboarding new suppliers.
• Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong partnerships to ensure quality, innovation, and continuity of supply.
• Supply Chain Resilience: Anticipate potential issues and develop strategic solutions to mitigate risk.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor global food market trends and pricing to inform buying strategy and commercial decisions.
• Inventory Management: Ensure optimal stock levels to balance availability with waste reduction.
• Compliance: Ensure procurement activity complies with industry standards, ethical practices, and internal policies.
• Reporting: Produce regular insights on procurement performance, supplier metrics, and category trends.
• Leadership: Support or manage junior team members; contribute to procurement capability development across the team.

Required Experience of the Senior Buyer:

• Experience: Minimum 3 years in procurement, ideally in food or retail sectors, with a proven ability to manage international supply relationships.
• Strategic Skills: Strong understanding of commercial negotiation, global sourcing, and supply chain planning.
• Leadership Potential: Previous team management or mentoring experience is highly desirable.
• Communication: Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Values: Committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing practices.

Benefits:
Competitive salary in line with experience:£50,000- £60,000

• Bonus
• Medical cover
• Work from home on Fridays
• Career progression plan intoHead of Procurement

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