Buyer

Terry Parris Associates; Sunbury-on-Thames; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Terry Parris Associates is seeking a proactive Buyer to support a busy manufacturing environment in Sunbury-on-Thames. You will manage supplier relationships, negotiate costs and ensure materials arrive on time and at the right price and quality.

From negotiating with suppliers to improving delivery performance, you will drive value and cost reductions while collaborating with internal teams to align procurement with production needs.

Qualifications

• Previous purchasing or buying experience, ideally within aerospace, defence, engineering or manufacturing.
• Some understanding of manufacturing processes and engineering environments.
• Ability to understand and interpret basic engineering drawings.
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to deliver results.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing activity through an MRP system, responding to requirements and action messages.
• Ensure materials and components are purchased at the right price, quality and lead time.
• Manage external suppliers and subcontractors within a manufacturing environment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Negotiate with suppliers to deliver cost savings and commercial improvements.
• Drive improvements in Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD).
• Take ownership of supplier issues and drive them through to resolution.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure purchasing activity supports production and business requirements.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

MRP systems

Cost reduction

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Job description

Buyer

Location: Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey

Drive Value. Build Relationships. Keep Production Moving. We re looking for a proactive and commercially minded Buyer to join a busy manufacturing environment and play a key role in keeping materials, suppliers and production running smoothly.

This is a hands‑on purchasing role where you ll manage supplier relationships, negotiate costs, improve delivery performance and make sure the right materials arrive on time, at the right quality and at the right price.

If you re confident negotiating, enjoy building strong supplier relationships and want a role where your decisions have a direct impact on the business, this could be a great next move.

What You ll Do

• Manage purchasing activity through an MRP system, responding to requirements and action messages.
• Ensure materials and components are purchased at the right price, quality and lead time.
• Manage external suppliers and subcontractors within a manufacturing environment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Manage subcontract operations and ensure parts are returned within required timescales.
• Negotiate with suppliers to deliver cost savings and commercial improvements.
• Maintain personal savings plans and cost trackers.
• Drive improvements in Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD).
• Manage defective or non-conforming material returns and support corrective actions.
• Assist with MRP updates and purchasing data accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes and reduce external spend.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure purchasing activity supports production and business requirements.
• Take ownership of supplier issues and drive them through to resolution.

What You ll Bring

• Previous purchasing or buying experience, ideally within aerospace, defence, engineering or manufacturing.
• Some understanding of manufacturing processes and engineering environments.
• Ability to understand and interpret basic engineering drawings.
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to deliver results.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness and a focus on achieving value.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within a team.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.

AI & Digital Skills

You ll be encouraged to use AI and digital tools to improve productivity, decision-making, quality and cost efficiency. You should be comfortable identifying practical AI use cases while critically reviewing and validating AI-generated information.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a purchasing portfolio and make a visible commercial impact.

You ll be working closely with suppliers, engineering, production and internal stakeholders, with the freedom to build relationships, negotiate better outcomes and improve the way purchasing operates.

If you're a commercially driven Buyer who enjoys negotiation, supplier management and making things happen, we d like to hear from you.