At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying team to define and execute product and supplier strategies.
- Company: Join RS Safety Solutions, a global leader in safety equipment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, health plans, and lifestyle perks.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team with opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment focused on innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial buying and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Location: this is an office-based role, working out of Manchester, Corby, London or Melton (near Hull).
Contract Type: full-time, permanent position.
The Opportunity
You would be accountable for defining and executing the commercial product and supplier strategy for RS Safety Solutions, ensuring the business delivers a differentiated, customer-focused and profitable proposition across UK & Ireland. This role is also responsible for developing and executing the company's purchasing and sourcing strategy to achieve sales, profit, and growth targets. Leading the buying team, you would manage key supplier relationships, negotiate commercial agreements, and ensure the right products are available at the right time, price, and quality.
The role will develop strong supplier partnerships and commercial performance whilst strengthening RS Safety Solutions position as a trusted partner of PPE and safety equipment, protecting people from the equipment they operate and protecting the equipment from human touch and contamination risk.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Working closely with the General Manager and Site Director, the Head of Buying will identify market opportunities, anticipate customer needs and leverage supplier relationships to deliver innovative products, value-added solutions and competitive advantage.
- The role will combine strategic thinking with commercial execution, ensuring the product portfolio supports business growth ambitions while maximising customer value and profitability.
- Identify market opportunities, customer trends and emerging technologies that support category growth.
- Build differentiated product and service propositions that strengthen competitiveness.
- Develop category plans that balance short-term commercial performance with long-term strategic growth.
- Create joint business plans with strategic suppliers to support growth, innovation and market leadership, as well as identifying opportunities to broaden partnerships to strengthen market position.
- Drive development of our VAS offering that differentiates us from competitors.
- Ensure robust forecasting, planning and commercial governance processes are in place.
- Own category revenue, margin and profitability performance; monitoring and reporting performance against financial and operational targets.
- Use customer, supplier and market insight to inform strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance and CS to deliver on goals.
- Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Act as the voice of the market within RS Safety Solutions.
What You’ll Bring
The successful candidate will bring deep category and supplier expertise, strong commercial acumen and ambition, and a proven ability to build market-leading propositions through effective supplier engagement, category management and customer insight.
We're looking for an externally focused leader who combines strategic vision with relentless execution and will bring:
- Significant Commercial, product and buying experience.
- Proven success growing a B2B industrial, safety, distribution, MRO, manufacturing services or technical products business.
- A track record of materially growing revenue, profit and market share.
- Strong commercial acumen with deep experience of customer strategy and business development.
- Experience leading through change, transformation and organisational scaling.
- An engaging individual with outstanding stakeholder management and influencing capability.
Not essential but would be great if you had:
- Experience in a multi-site, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, or FMCG environment.
- Professional qualification such as CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply).
- Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Retail Management, or a related field.
We Are RS
At RS, we are making amazing happen for a better world. As a global product and service solutions provider, we help industrial customers operate more efficiently and sustainably. Operating in 33 markets, we support around one million customers worldwide with more than 875,000 stocked products, access to over five million additional products, and a range of service solutions designed to help businesses thrive.
What sets us apart is our people. More than 8,500 colleagues around the world bring technical expertise, digital innovation, and a customer first mindset to everything we do. Guided by our values – We are one team, We deliver brilliantly, We do the right thing, and We make every day better, we're creating an environment where our people can grow, contribute and make a meaningful impact.
Join us and help make amazing happen.
Rewards
Our Reward Strategy Philosophy is designed to offer market competitive base salaries and provide all of our people the opportunity to participate in a short-term incentive, enabling them to share in the success of the Company. Our total reward package is more than just the cash; our recognition and benefit offering provide the opportunity for us to recognise, reward and enable the wellbeing of our people at all stages of their journey with RS. Our rewards and benefits vary by country, but include:
- Financial - pension/retirement; life assurance; salary finance (payroll deduction loan scheme).
- Wellbeing - medical plans; health screening; critical illness; disability insurance; holiday / paid time off; employee assistance programme; discounted gym/health club membership.
- Lifestyle - transportation assistance schemes (e.g., cycle to work, travel loans, car leasing); onsite catering/lunch vouchers; retail discounts.
- Spotlight – our global recognition programme provides a platform to highlight and recognise people role modelling our values.
Ready to Make Amazing Happen?
Join over 8,500 colleagues and help us shape the future of our industry. Whoever you are, wherever you are — it all starts here.
Head of Buying employer: RS UK & Ireland
At RS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a hybrid work model that allows flexibility between remote work and our Corby office. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, while our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous improvement initiatives and a comprehensive rewards package that prioritises wellbeing and recognition. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and empowers you to make a meaningful impact in a global environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Buying
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like RS UK & Ireland.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Buying
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to RS UK & Ireland:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to RS UK & Ireland. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like RS UK & Ireland.
How to prepare for a job interview at RS UK & Ireland
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at RS UK & Ireland!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at RS UK & Ireland. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into RS UK & Ireland's culture.
