At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage supplier relationships and drive cost savings in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- Company: Fast-growing organisation in Milton Keynes with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, immediate start, and potential for permanent position.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth and involvement in cross-functional projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact and influence suppliers while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in purchasing, strong negotiation skills, and excellent communication.
12-Month Fixed-Term Contract
Milton Keynes
Immediate Start
£38k - £40k
Are you an experienced Buyer looking for your next opportunity with a fast-growing and highly successful organisation? We’re working with a brilliant, growing business in Milton Keynes that is looking to appoint a Buyer on an initial 12-month fixed-term contract, covering maternity leave. This is much more than a transactional buying role. You’ll play a key part in developing the supply base, driving cost savings, managing supplier relationships and supporting the wider business across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain.
The Role
- Managing and developing a competitive, reliable supplier base.
- Supporting and implementing commodity and sourcing strategies.
- Leading supplier selection, enquiries and negotiations.
- Driving cost reduction and total cost optimisation initiatives.
- Managing supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery and risk.
- Analysing supplier capacity and lead times to protect production requirements.
- Building strong relationships with suppliers and resolving supply issues.
- Working closely with Engineering, Design, Manufacturing and Quality teams on new components and technologies.
- Supporting continuous improvement across purchasing processes and ways of working.
- Representing Purchasing within cross-functional projects and meetings.
- Supporting supplier visits, audits and development activities.
About You
We’re looking for someone who is commercially minded, proactive and enjoys working in a dynamic manufacturing environment. You’ll ideally have:
- Previous experience in Purchasing/Buying within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
- Strong supplier management and negotiation experience.
- A track record of delivering against cost, quality and delivery objectives.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
- CIPS or an equivalent recognised procurement qualification is desirable.
- A willingness to travel to suppliers in the UK and internationally.
Why Apply?
This is an immediate-start opportunity with a fantastic, growing organisation where you can make a real impact. Although initially offered as a 12-month maternity cover, there is genuine potential for the role to develop into a permanent position for the right person as the business continues to grow. If you’re an ambitious Buyer looking for a role where you can take ownership, influence suppliers and contribute to a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
Buyer (FTC) employer: Reevr Talent Ltd
Join a dynamic and fast-growing organisation in Milton Keynes as a Buyer, where you will not only manage supplier relationships but also drive cost savings and support cross-functional teams. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, this role offers the potential for permanent placement and the opportunity to make a significant impact within the company. Enjoy a collaborative work culture that values innovation and proactive contributions, making it an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer (FTC)
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer (FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Reevr Talent Ltd that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Reevr Talent Ltd can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Reevr Talent Ltd that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Reevr Talent Ltd know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Reevr Talent Ltd
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
