Buyer

Are you commercially minded and enjoy contributing to the success of a growing business?

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded Buyer to join our Procurement & Supply Chain team. This varied role is responsible for sourcing products, managing supplier relationships, supporting new product introductions, and helping to ensure the business achieves the best possible value, quality, and service from its supply base. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys building relationships, analysing data, and contributing to the success of a fast-paced and growing business.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the sourcing and purchasing of products for resale in line with business requirements, demand forecasts and new product development plans.
• Support the NPD process by sourcing new products, identifying suitable suppliers, obtaining quotations and samples, and assessing options against cost, quality, specification and commercial requirements.
• Work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders, including Product Development, Commercial and Supply Chain, to support the successful development, sourcing and launch of new products within agreed timescales.
• Assist in implementing category strategies to optimise cost, quality, and service levels.
• Work closely with supply chain planning to ensure effective use of ERP / MRP systems to optimise stock levels and ensure product availability targets are met.
• Build, manage, and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure reliable supply and performance.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms to deliver best value and mitigate risk.
• Contribute to the delivery of the procurement plan, ensuring progress is tracked against agreed metrics and that NPD sourcing and launch activities are delivered to plan.
• Participate in business meetings as required, providing procurement and supplier input for product development and range reviews.
• Take responsibility for achieving agreed objectives, including timely supply, data accuracy, and efficient purchase-to-pay processes.
• Identify inefficiencies in procurement processes and support continuous improvement initiatives
• Monitor and manage supplier performance against agreed service level agreements including following up on any third-party supplier audits where corrective action related to purchased product is identified.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities across existing product ranges and deliver measurable savings where identified.
• Monitor market trends, pricing changes, and potential supply risks.
• Ensure total cost of ownership is considered in all purchasing decisions, including the sourcing, development and introduction of new projects.
• Manage assigned purchasing projects, including tenders, supplier selection, negotiations, sample coordination and costing, ensuring delivery within agreed time scales and commercial parameters.
• Identify, assess and onboard new suppliers to support existing procurement requirements and new product development opportunities.
• Monitor and complete Supplier audits to ensure full compliance with company values and sustainability objectives.
• Conduct benchmarking activities to maintain competitiveness of product portfolios.
• Provide accurate and timely cost and supplier data to support budgeting, forecasting and commercial decision-making, including costing for new product introductions.
• To support, as required, any claims against supply partners through the provision of data and negotiation of a positive outcome.
• Ensure procurement plans align with demand forecasts and operational requirements.
• Maintain accurate supplier, pricing, and purchasing data within MRP and other related systems.
• Track data and produce reports to support decision-making and performance tracking
• Support new product introductions through effective purchasing and coordination.
• Monitor product quality and escalate issues where required
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements as well as maintain accurate documentation and audit trails for purchasing activities
• Support supplier risk management and issue activities, including assessments of quality and compliance as well as minimising disruption to operations and customers

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Experience in purchasing, sourcing, or procurement roles.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload to meet business needs.
• Understanding of supply chain processes, including logistics and demand planning.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of cost drivers.
• Good analytical and numerical skills with high attention to detail.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to interpret data.
• Team player with a flexible and proactive approach.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure.
• Focused on continuous improvement and efficiency.
• Ability to work to own initiative to achieve best possible outcome.
• A-levels or equivalent vocational qualifications in business, procurement or supply chain (or relevant experience).

Desirable

• Exposure to sourcing or supplier management practices.
• Basic understanding of contracts or supplier risk management
• Working towards or interest in CIPS qualification.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business, Procurement, or a related field.