Company Buyer in Sittingbourne

Unipet Ltd is a growing SME manufacturing business supplying products into the pet and wild bird food markets. We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Company Buyer to take ownership of our purchasing function.

This is a hands-on role, ideally suited to someone who enjoys working within an SME environment where they can make a real difference. You will be responsible for ensuring the business has the materials, packaging, consumables and services it needs, at the right quality, price and time.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable working independently, managing suppliers and dealing with the day-to-day demands of a busy manufacturing operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day purchasing function.
• Purchase raw materials, packaging, consumables, engineering spares and other goods and services required by the business.
• Work closely with Production, Planning, Technical and Operations to understand requirements and ensure continuity of supply.
• Raise and manage purchase orders from requirement through to delivery.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers.
• Source and evaluate new suppliers where required.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times and other commercial arrangements.
• Monitor supplier performance, including price, quality, delivery and service.
• Challenge suppliers where performance or pricing does not meet expectations.
• Maintain appropriate stock levels while avoiding unnecessary stockholding.
• Identify opportunities to reduce purchasing costs and improve value.
• Monitor commodity and supplier pricing and highlight significant changes.
• Ensure purchasing decisions represent the best overall commercial outcome, not simply the lowest price.
• Work closely with Finance to resolve invoice, pricing and supplier issues.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier records.
• Support the business with supplier reviews, negotiations and cost-saving initiatives.
• Assist with the introduction of new products, materials and suppliers.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company procedures and relevant quality and traceability requirements.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who has proven purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment, ideally within an SME or similarly hands-on business.

You will need to be:

• Commercially aware and confident negotiating with suppliers.
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership.
• Confident dealing with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Numerate and commercially astute.
• Strong on attention to detail.
• Practical and solutions focused.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.
• Able to make decisions and act without needing constant direction.

Experience of purchasing raw materials, packaging and manufacturing consumables would be particularly advantageous.

Personal Qualities

The right person will be someone who gets things done. This is not a role for someone who simply raises purchase orders and waits for suppliers to respond.

We need someone who will pick up the phone, chase a delivery, challenge a price, find an alternative supplier and resolve problems before they become production issues.

As a small business, everyone has an important role to play. The successful candidate will therefore need to be willing to get involved across the business and work collaboratively with the wider management and operational teams.

What We Offer

• A key role within an established and growing SME manufacturing business.
• The opportunity to take ownership of the purchasing function.
• The opportunity to make a tangible commercial impact.
• A varied and hands-on role with considerable autonomy.
• The opportunity to develop and improve the company's purchasing strategy and supplier base.
• Competitive salary of £35,000–£45,000 depending on experience.

The ideal candidate will not just be a Buyer — they will become the person the business relies upon to make sure we have the right materials, from the right suppliers, at the right price and at the right time.

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