The Tactical Buyer is responsible for securing timely, cost-effective, and quality-compliant supply of raw material or packaging required for manufacturing operations at the Sheffield plant. This role ensures uninterrupted production by managing supplier relationships, executing procurement strategies, and maintaining optimal inventory levels aligned with Sherwin-Williams operational, financial, and EHS standards.
Responsibilities
Procurement & Supply Continuity
- Execute purchasing activities for assigned raw material/packaging categories to ensure continuous plant operations.
- Monitor inventory levels, forecast demand, and trigger replenishment orders aligned with production plans.
- Collaborate with planning, production, and logistics teams to mitigate supply risks and prevent stockouts.
- Manage purchase requisitions and convert them into purchase orders in Oracle.
Supplier Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure reliability, quality, and responsiveness.
- Monitor supplier performance (OTIF, lead time adherence, quality compliance) and drive improvement actions.
Inventory & Working Capital Optimization
- Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing service level targets with working capital objectives.
- Identify opportunities to reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving stock.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with Sherwin-Williams procurement policies, ethical sourcing standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Identify supply risks (e.g., geopolitical, logistical, supplier-related) and develop mitigation plans.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Supply Chain Planning, Scheduling, Manufacturing, Finance, R&D, and Quality teams to align procurement activities with plant goals.
- Act as the primary procurement contact for assigned material categories at the Sheffield site.
Qualifications
- GCSEs (or equivalent)
- Further education or training (e.g. A-levels, BTEC, or apprenticeship) - Preferred
- 2 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or purchasing (ideally in manufacturing or FMCG/chemical industry) – Preferred
- Experience with ERP systems
- Experience in raw material/packaging procurement within coatings, chemicals, or industrial manufacturing
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good understanding of supply chain planning and inventory management
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced production environment
- Strong Excel skills
- Fluent in English (written and spoken)
- Plant-based role requiring close collaboration with manufacturing and operations teams
- Occasional travel to suppliers
- Commitment to Sherwin-Williams values, safety standards, and sustainability goals
What we can offer you...
- The established salary range for this position is GBP 33,561 – 43,249.08 gross annual
- Site bonus plan
Life Pension Scheme: Company-contributed for your future security.
Flexible Working Schedule: Includes weekends and bank holidays.
Sick Pay and Annual Leave: Continued salary payment during sickness and 25 days of annual leave.
Work-Life Balance: We value your personal time and well-being.
Career Opportunities: Grow within a truly international business.
Ongoing Training and Support: Continuous learning and development opportunities.
Pay transparency
The salary range shown refers to base salary only. In addition to this, we offer a broader total reward package which may include bonus or incentive pay, relevant allowances, and a range of competitive benefits. We encourage candidates to consider the full package when evaluating an offer.
Salary is determined using a structured and objective framework, taking into account the role’s responsibilities, required skills and experience, market benchmarks, and internal equity. This ensures pay decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with our commitment to equal pay and legal compliance.
#LI-JR1
Local Buyer in Sheffield employer: Sherwin-Williams
Join our dynamic team at our Bolton site, where we prioritise a collaborative work culture and continuous improvement. As a Quality Technician, you'll benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and development, alongside competitive shift patterns that promote work-life balance. We are committed to maintaining a safe workplace and fostering innovation, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in quality assurance.
