Buyer

JR United Kingdom; Crawley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a motivated Buyer to join their Procurement and Supply Chain team. This role involves managing supplier relationships, leading negotiations, and ensuring timely delivery of materials to support business objectives. Ideal candidates will possess a CIPS qualification and experience in an FMCG context.

Qualifications

• Experienced in managing procurement in an FMCG environment.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proactive and resilient approach in negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead pricing negotiations and manage supplier relationships.
• Conduct market analysis and research for procurement strategy.
• Ensure timely delivery and optimal inventory management.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Organisational Skills

Education

CIPS Qualification

Job description

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Shift Pattern/Hours: Monday – Friday (37.75 hours per week)

Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Buyer to join our dynamic Procurement and Supply Chain team. As a key member of the function, you will take overall responsibility for a category, leading price negotiations, collaborating with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of key materials, while maintaining optimal inventory levels to meet business objectives.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage external suppliers for packaging and dry goods.
• Develop a detailed understanding of your category, market trends, innovations, and industry best practices to support key business decisions.
• Lead strategic and tactical pricing negotiations for key materials.
• Evaluate bids and make recommendations based on commercial and technical factors.
• Conduct research to identify the best products and suppliers in terms of value, delivery schedules, and quality.
• Identify new suppliers, negotiate terms, and secure supply agreements, including discount structures and volume rebates.
• Ensure competitive pricing for materials purchased.
• Oversee the purchasing process for the category, ensuring timely delivery and meeting site requirements.
• Communicate forecasting data to suppliers and maintain accurate stock levels to meet production volumes while managing risk.
• Provide cross-functional support for new packaging requirements related to supply/commercial changes.
• Continuously improve purchasing methods and drive cost reductions.
• Develop processes, expertise, and systems to support category-led improvements.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, including supplier visits and building good rapport.
• Monitor supplier performance, conduct regular reviews, and implement clear action plans.
• Manage the invoicing process, including issue resolution.
• Produce monthly, weekly, and annual cost reports, including forecasts and budgets.
• Complete forecasts, budgets, and analyze trends impacting future activities.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• A relevant third-level qualification (e.g., CIPS).
• Proven experience in managing procurement and sourcing relationships within an FMCG environment.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent negotiation abilities, and commercially astute.
• Resilient with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to support multiple sites.
• Highly analytical with strong IT skills.
• Demonstrated business improvement mindset and ability to drive change.

If you are an experienced Buyer with a passion for procurement, supply chain management, and are eager to contribute to the ongoing success of a dynamic team, we would love to hear from you. Apply today!