Buyer (FTC)

AG Barr; Cumbernauld; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A beverage company in Cumbernauld is seeking an experienced Buyer to manage procurement categories. The role involves developing category strategies, leading tender processes, and ensuring cost management. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in procurement, excellent negotiation skills, and a degree-level qualification. This position offers a hybrid work model and a competitive salary.

Benefits

Annual bonus opportunity

Defined contribution Pension

Up to 34 days holiday

Flexible cash pot for benefits

Healthcare Cash Plan

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a procurement role, focusing on category management.
• Strong understanding of relevant commodity markets.
• Excellent negotiation skills for cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Category Strategies by analysing market trends.
• Lead the Tender Process and negotiate contracts.
• Identify and implement cost-saving strategies.

Skills

Procurement Expertise

Commercial Acumen

Negotiation Skills

Stakeholder Management

Adaptability

Education

Degree-level qualification

Tools

Total Cost Analysis

Job description

Job Title : Buyer

Level: 5

Location : Cumbernauld, Hybrid

Term: Fixed term (c. 12 months TBC)

Are you ready to Be Your Best Barr None?

Lets Grow!!!

We are all about Being Your Best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter!

Employing around 850 people across the UK, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.

For 150 years AG Barr has been building great brands and is home to some of the nations favourite flavours.

At our core is IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand, Boost making every moment better with a caffeine kick, hydration hit or tasty treat, and FUNKIN where real fruit means authentic taste.

We also have a number of exciting owned brands within our portfolio including MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges.

There's never been a better time to join us!

What we’re looking for…

We are looking for an experienced and meticulous Buyer to take ownership of specific direct procurement categories, such as key packaging or raw materials.

You will be instrumental in ensuring company procurement activities are effectively supported and continually developed to the highest standards. A core part of this role is proactively identifying and delivering efficiency and cost-saving opportunities, while leading contract management and tenders for your categories. You will be responsible for comprehensive supplier selection, assessing potential partners based on a balanced scorecard that includes availability, quality, price, risk, environmental credentials, and market status. Ultimately, you will contribute to the Procurement team's objective of consistently meeting customer demand for low-cost manufacture of high-quality soft drinks and ensuring all external spend is professionally managed. You'll report to the Senior Buyer and collaborate closely with stakeholders across the business.

Your responsibilities will include...

• Category Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute robust Category Strategies by analysing market trends, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and aligning procurement activities with overarching business goals.
• Sourcing, Tenders, & Negotiation: Own and lead the entire Tender Process, from issuing RFPs to conducting complex negotiations (commercial and legal terms) to secure high-quality, cost-effective contracts for materials and services.
• Cost Management & Value Delivery: Be accountable for effective cost management, proactively identifying and implementing strategies (e.g., volume discounts, alternative sourcing) to achieve significant cost reductions, and monitoring Purchase Price Variance (PPV) monthly.
• Supplier & Risk Management: Implement robust Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), conducting regular business reviews, managing performance, and actively identifying and mitigating supply chain risks (e.g., geopolitical, financial instability) to ensure supply resilience.
• Spend Analysis & Optimisation: Conduct detailed Spend Analysis to drive process efficiencies, rationalise the supplier base, and champion new and innovative sourcing solutions to improve product quality, sustainability, and efficiency across the procurement function.
• Financial Oversight: Manage procurement budgets effectively, forecasting costs, monitoring spend, and providing accurate financial reports to stakeholders.

What you’ll bring...

• Proven Procurement Expertise: A minimum of 5 years of experience in a procurement role, preferably with a focus on category management or strategic sourcing. A degree-level qualification is preferred.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong commercial awareness and a deep understanding of relevant commodity markets.
• Negotiation & Financial Skills: Excellent negotiation skills and a proven ability to conduct total cost analysis to deliver significant cost savings and long-term value.
• Strategic Contribution: Experience contributing to cross-functional projects, such as New Product Development (NPD), from the early stages through to implementation, ensuring material supply aspects are effectively coordinated.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to build and maintain professional relationships both internally and externally. The role requires a confident and assertive approach when necessary.
• Adaptability: The ability to prioritise tasks and respond dynamically to a fast-paced, changing business environment.
• Professional Standards: A strong understanding of and commitment to working within the professional code of practice of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) or a similar industry body.

What we offer…

We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent.

We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes:

• Annual bonus opportunity linked to business performance
• Defined contribution Pension
• Up to 34 days holiday
• Flexible holiday trading
• Flexible cash pot to spend on benefits
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashbacks, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
• Life assurance
• Save as you earn scheme
• Staff sales discount
• Free AG Barr products throughout your working day and staff sales
• Annual salary review
• Ongoing professional development and access to Learning and Development programmes and content

And much more!

To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our careers platform here.

We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition.

While we have highlighted our ideal requirements for this role, we are realistic that the successful candidate probably won't meet every single requirement in this advert, but we are big advocates of people growing in role. So even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to submit an application - you may be just what we are looking for! Apply now!

Speculative CVs from agencies will not be accepted.

Latest closing date for applications is29th October 2025.

Please note, we may close vacancies early where we receive significant numbers of applications, so apply now!