Buyer

The Sterling Choice; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is hiring a Buyer (Derbyshire) in the food manufacturing sector. This hybrid role requires three days on site with UK travel as needed. You will source raw materials, negotiate with suppliers, and drive cost efficiencies to protect margins and production quality.

Ideal candidates have experience in food procurement, strong negotiation skills, and a commercial mindset to manage costs and supply risks in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience buying in food manufacturing.
• Strong commercial sense, costs, margins and supply chain risks.
• Ability to fix issues quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Source raw materials and negotiate best value while maintaining quality.
• Manage supplier performance and address under-delivery.
• Monitor pricing trends, risks and potential disruptions.
• Oversee costings and tenders to ensure commercial pricing.
• Collaborate with procurement, supply chain and operations.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Costing & tenders

Procurement

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

This range is provided by The Sterling Choice. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Buyer (Derbyshire) – Food Manufacturing (Experience in Food Mandatory) - £50,000 - £55,000

Hybrid – (3 days on site)

Nothing stands still in food manufacturing. If you’re a buyer who can keep things moving, cut through the noise, and land the right deals, this role is for you.

This isn’t a role for someone who wants to keep things ticking along. We need a doer who understands the fast-paced, ever-changing world of food manufacturing and can bring real strategic thinking to the table.

The Job

You’ll be the go-to person for sourcing raw materials, negotiating with suppliers, and making sure the business isn’t paying over the odds for anything. Your decisions will directly impact costs, quality, and production efficiency—so no pressure.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Getting the best deals without compromising on quality or service.
• Keeping suppliers in check - If they underdeliver, you’ll be the one sorting it.
• Watching the market, staying ahead of pricing trends, risks, and potential disruptions.
• Managing costings & tenders, ensuring raw material prices stack up commercially.
• Working cross-functionally, linking procurement, supply chain, and operations.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience buying in food manufacturing.
• Negotiation skills – If you can’t push back on suppliers, this isn’t for you.
• Strong commercial sense, understanding costs, margins, and supply chain risks.
• Problem-solving mentality – Things will go wrong. You’ll need to fix them—quickly.
• Flexibility to travel – Mostly UK-based, with occasional trips abroad.
• CIPS qualification? Great if you have it, but experience matters more.

A key role in a growing business where you can make an impact, with the chance to own your category and drive commercial improvements.

If this strikes a chord with you and your CV is ready, then click apply now! If your CV is not ready and you want to learn more, call me (Olly) on 01733 391 515!

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Purchasing

Industries

Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Food and Beverage Services