Project Buyer

THE ROLE We are looking for an experienced Project Buyer to join a growing manufacturing business and take ownership of procurement activity across new and existing product programmes. Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality and Programme Management, the Project Buyer will be responsible for ensuring components and materials are sourced at the right cost, quality and lead time to support new product introduction (NPI), product changes and ongoing manufacturing requirements. This is a commercially focused role requiring someone who can combine strong supplier negotiation skills with a good understanding of manufacturing, engineering drawings, project timelines and supply chain risk. The successful candidate will manage procurement activity from initial supplier identification and RFQ through to negotiation, nomination, product launch and transition into serial production. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Project Procurement & NPI Take ownership of procurement activities for new projects and product launches. Work closely with Engineering and Programme teams to understand upcoming material and component requirements. Develop sourcing plans aligned with project milestones and production launch dates. Manage procurement activities from initial concept and prototype stages through to production launch. Ensure components, samples and tooling are sourced in line with project requirements. Monitor project procurement timelines and escalate potential delays or supply risks. Support engineering changes and ensure commercial and supply chain implications are understood before implementation. Manage the transition of new components and suppliers into serial production. Ensure procurement deliverables are achieved in line with overall programme timing. Strategic Sourcing Identify, assess and select suppliers capable of meeting technical, commercial and operational requirements. Manage RFQ/RFP processes across new and existing suppliers. Analyse supplier quotations and provide clear commercial recommendations. Conduct supplier benchmarking and market analysis. Develop sourcing strategies for key components and commodities. Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and alternative sourcing. Work with Engineering to identify opportunities for design-to-cost and value engineering. Support make-versus-buy decisions where appropriate. Develop dual-sourcing strategies for business-critical components. Commercial Negotiation & Cost Management Lead commercial negotiations covering: Component pricing Tooling costs Minimum order quantities Lead times Payment terms Capacity commitments Logistics arrangements Contractual terms Deliver measurable cost reductions across assigned projects and commodities. Identify cost-down opportunities throughout the product lifecycle. Understand supplier cost structures and challenge quotations where appropriate. Track and report procurement savings against agreed targets. Support budget development and project cost tracking. Manage purchase price variance and ensure commercial agreements are accurately reflected within ERP systems. Supplier Management Build strong relationships with strategic suppliers. Monitor supplier performance across quality, cost, delivery and responsiveness. Conduct supplier reviews and support corrective-action plans where performance falls below expectations. Work closely with Quality and Engineering teams to resolve supplier-related technical and quality issues. Identify potential supplier capacity, financial or operational risks. Develop mitigation and contingency plans for critical suppliers and components. Support supplier development initiatives to improve cost, quality and delivery performance. Manufacturing & Engineering Collaboration Work closely with Engineering teams to understand specifications, drawings, BOMs and technical requirements. Provide procurement input during product development to ensure commercial and supply chain considerations are incorporated early. Challenge specifications constructively where alternative materials, suppliers or manufacturing methods could improve cost or availability. Work with Production and Planning teams to ensure materials are available to support prototype, pre-production and production builds. Support engineering changes and manage supplier implementation. Ensure obsolete or superseded components are appropriately managed to minimise excess inventory. Supply Chain Risk Identify supply chain risks throughout the project lifecycle. Assess supplier capacity and lead-time constraints. Identify single-source dependencies and develop alternative sourcing strategies where appropriate. Manage long-lead-time components to protect project milestones. Develop contingency plans for critical materials and suppliers. Ensure potential supply disruptions are escalated early with clear mitigation actions. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS The Project Buyer will typically be measured against: Project procurement milestones Cost savings / cost avoidance Purchase price variance Supplier OTIF / OTD Supplier quality Project launch performance Material availability Supplier lead-time reduction Number of single-source components RFQ turnaround Supplier nomination timing Tooling delivery Inventory exposure during engineering changes EXPERIENCE REQUIRED The successful candidate will ideally have: Previous experience as a Project Buyer, Buyer, Commodity Buyer, Procurement Specialist or similar within a manufacturing environment. Strong experience purchasing direct materials, components or engineered products. Experience supporting NPI, new product launches or engineering projects. Proven supplier sourcing and negotiation capability. Experience managing RFQs and supplier selection processes. A track record of delivering measurable cost reductions. Good understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chains. Experience working with Engineering, Quality, Operations and Supply Chain teams. Strong commercial awareness and understanding of total cost. Experience using ERP/MRP systems. Strong Excel and data-analysis skills