Buyer

Alchem Partners; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Alchem Partners in the United Kingdom is excited to support an established chemical manufacturing business in appointing a Buyer. Joining a close-knit procurement team, you’ll manage a portfolio of raw materials and chemicals, alongside packaging and indirect purchasing, with a focus on cost savings and supplier relationships.

You’ll bring proven buying experience in manufacturing, strong negotiation skills, and familiarity with SAP.

Qualifications

• Proven buying or procurement experience in manufacturing.
• Experience sourcing raw materials, chemicals, packaging, and indirect supplies.
• Strong negotiation skills and supplier relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Manage own portfolio of raw materials, chemicals, packaging and indirect purchasing.
• Lead on supplier pricing, terms, and supply continuity.
• Identify alternative suppliers and opportunities to reduce costs.
• Resolve supplier non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality and Technical teams and Procurement Manager.

Skills

Buying experience

Negotiation skills

Supplier relationships

Packaging experience

Sourcing

Education

CIPS qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

Alchem Partners are excited to be engaged as the search partner supporting an established chemical manufacturing business with the appointment of a Buyer.

Joining a close-knit procurement team, you’ll manage your own portfolio of raw materials and chemicals, alongside taking the lead on packaging and indirect purchasing.

It’s a varied, hands-on role with the opportunity to influence purchasing decisions, develop alternative sources and deliver cost savings.

• The successful candidate will have proven experience within a buying role and have experience in sourcing and negotiating raw materials, chemicals, packaging and indirect requirements.
• Manage supplier relationships, pricing, payment terms, lead times and continuity of supply.
• Identify alternative suppliers and opportunities to improve value.
• Resolve supplier non-conformances and follow through on corrective actions.
• Take ownership of packaging suppliers, supporting approvals, specifications and compliance documentation.
• Obtain supplier declarations and packaging information to support environmental reporting requirements.
• Purchase maintenance items, engineering parts and production consumables.
• Work closely with the Procurement Manager and colleagues across production, quality and technical teams.

Required experience:

• You’ll have buying or procurement experience within manufacturing, ideally in chemicals or a process industry, and be CIPS qualified or working towards it.
• You’ll bring strong negotiation skills, purchasing systems experience such as SAP, and the confidence to build relationships with suppliers and colleagues at all levels. Experience supporting packaging compliance and supplier declarations would be particularly useful.
• You’ll also need to live within commuting distance of the site and be willing to visit suppliers across the UK when required.

This would suit someone commercially minded, proactive and organised who enjoys working in a smaller team. You’ll be approachable, adaptable and comfortable taking ownership of your work.