Buyer

Reed; Pennington; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed, a growing manufacturing business, is seeking a proactive Buyer to join the Procurement team in Southampton. You will help ensure timely material supply to production, manage supplier relationships and drive cost savings across direct and indirect spend.

As part of a busy team, you will optimise procurement data and support inventory management while collaborating with Production, Planning, Engineering and Warehouse colleagues.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' procurement or purchasing experience.
• Experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using MRP/ERP systems.
• Strong Excel and Office 365 skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Raise and manage purchase orders through the company's ERP system.
• Ensure supplier acknowledgements meet delivery dates.
• Maintain procurement data including lead times, MOQ/MPQ settings and order book management.
• Build and develop strong supplier relationships to improve service levels and supply chain performance.
• Negotiate pricing, terms and contracts to achieve cost savings without compromising quality.
• Support inventory management to ensure material availability while minimising excess stock.
• Collaborate with Production, Planning, Engineering and Warehouse teams.
• Monitor supplier performance and contribute to KPI development and continuous improvement.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Relationship building

Prioritisation

Education

CIPS qualification or equivalent

Tools

Syspro ERP

Job description

Buyer (Manufacturing)

Location: Southampton

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: Competitive + Benefits

Are you a proactive Buyer with experience in procurement and supply chain operations? Do you thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where no two days are the same? We are partnering with an innovative engineering and manufacturing business looking to strengthen its procurement team with the addition of a Buyer.

The Role

Working as part of a busy Procurement team, you'll play a key role in ensuring the timely supply of materials to support production schedules and business growth. You'll manage supplier relationships, maintain purchasing data, support inventory optimisation and drive cost-saving initiatives across both direct and indirect spend categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Raise and manage purchase orders through the company's ERP system.
• Ensure supplier acknowledgements are received and meet required delivery dates.
• Maintain accurate procurement data, including lead times, MOQ/MPQ settings and order book management.
• Build and develop strong supplier relationships to improve service levels and supply chain performance.
• Negotiate pricing, terms and contracts to achieve cost savings without compromising quality.
• Support inventory management activities to ensure material availability while minimising excess stock.
• Collaborate closely with Production, Planning, Engineering and Warehouse teams.
• Monitor supplier performance and contribute to KPI development and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support risk mitigation strategies and supply continuity planning.

About You

We're looking for someone who is commercially aware, detail-oriented and eager to contribute to a growing business.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years' procurement or purchasing experience.
• Experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using MRP/ERP systems.
• Strong Excel and Office 365 skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage priorities and work to deadlines.

Desirable:

• CIPS qualification or equivalent.
• Experience purchasing both direct and indirect materials.
• Knowledge of technical or engineered products.
• Ability to read basic technical drawings.
• Previous experience with Syspro ERP.

What's On Offer?

• Opportunity to join a growing and innovative manufacturing business.
• Exposure to a broad procurement remit across direct and indirect spend.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Genuine opportunities for career development and professional growth.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

If you're looking to take the next step in your procurement career and make a tangible impact within a successful manufacturing operation, we'd love to hear from you.