Senior Buyer

We are looking for a Senior Buyer to join our team and take ownership of key spend categories, ensuring the cost, quality and delivery of goods and services meet our operational and strategic needs. In this role, you’ll oversee the full procurement cycle - working cross‑functionally to shape category strategies, negotiate competitive agreements, and drive continuous improvement across our supply base.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Category Management
  • Owning assigned spend categories and managing all related suppliers.
  • Taking a holistic approach to category performance, including pricing, delivery, quality, responsiveness, and supplier utilisation.
  • Developing long‑term sourcing strategies and tactical implementation plans.
• Operational Procurement Excellence
  • Managing the full procurement lifecycle—from need identification to contract and supplier relationship management.
  • Ensuring continuity of supply and mitigating supply chain risks.
  • Leading cost reduction, cost control and value‑improvement initiatives.
  • Driving prompt resolution of supplier non‑quality costs.
  • Collaborating with Central GSC Procurement and Purchasing teams across all operating companies to support global commodity strategies.
  • Presenting fact‑based analysis and recommendations to management for decision-making.
• Supplier & Contract Management
  • Leading commercial negotiations to deliver performance improvements.
  • Ensuring supplier agreements align with business values, objectives, and sustainability requirements.
  • Developing a strong, reliable and long‑term supply base.
  • Managing supplier performance, financial stability, and issue resolution.
  • Overseeing contract drafting, implementation and ongoing management.
  • Working closely with accounting teams to ensure timely payment of suppliers.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Supporting the development and enhancement of procurement tools, systems and processes.
  • Leading and influencing change across the supply chain.
  • Contributing to New Product Introduction and bespoke goods development.

This role requires national and international travel to suppliers.

Experience Required

• Strong background in supplier and commodity management within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience procuring both direct and indirect goods and services.
• Proven capability managing budgets and cost‑control processes.
• Full lifecycle Capital Expenditure (CapEx) procurement experience.
• Supply base risk management and mitigation.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction / Development.
• Proficiency working with ERP systems and data management tools.
• Demonstrated ability to implement change across the supply chain.
• Project management experience.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of purchasing systems and processes.
• Degree or equivalent in Procurement, Engineering, Business, or related discipline.
• Experience in supplier assessment, development and management.
• Strong understanding of competitive tendering and commercial processes.
• Knowledge of legal aspects of procurement, contract drafting and contract management.
• Experience managing both CapEx and overhead spend.
• Valid driving licence.
• Membership of a recognised global procurement body (e.g., CIPS or ISM), or working towards professional qualification.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint).
• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• Confident presenting data and recommendations to management.
• Flexible, adaptable, proactive and solutions-focused with a calm approach under pressure.
• Strong teamwork and ability to build effective business relationships.

Benefits

You will receive a competitive salary (and a discretionary bonus), flexible working and excellent benefits including 27 days holiday allowance (before bank holidays), 3 days’ paid volunteering leave, comprehensive private healthcare, enhanced pension plan, life assurance, optional participation in a Share Ownership Plan, free onsite parking, flexible benefits, and access to a personal discounts’ portal.

We also offer a range of additional support and benefits through our Everyone is Included Group Inclusion Plan.

We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential. For us, that means supportive teams and strong relationships where everyone’s contribution is valued - across social and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, gender identities, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and everything else that makes us human and unique.

We want everyone to be able to make their difference here, so we will always consider requests for flexible working. We know that everyone needs some extra help from time to time too, so we have introduced a range of additional benefits through our Group Inclusion Commitments.

We are also a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you would like to apply using this scheme, please select this option in our application form or notify our recruitment partners.