Buyer / Purchaser

Sunblink; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunblink in Chesterfield is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead procurement activities for an established engineering and manufacturing business. You will balance cost, quality and delivery while guiding a small procurement team to drive improvements and supplier performance.

You’ll build strong supplier relationships, identify cost-saving opportunities and ensure continuity of supply through effective sourcing and negotiations in a fast-paced industrial environment.

Qualifications

• Proven purchasing or procurement experience within steel fabrication, engineering, manufacturing or a similar industrial environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and improving procurement performance.
• Knowledge of lean inventory management and supply chain optimisation.
• A proven ability to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or service.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail with a structured and organised approach.
• CIPS qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Managing the procurement of materials, goods and services, balancing cost, quality and delivery.
• Leading and supporting a small procurement team through coaching, mentoring and guidance.
• Building and maintaining strong supplier relationships and ensuring continuity of supply.
• Identifying supply chain risks and implementing effective solutions and alternative sourcing options.
• Supporting continuous improvement across procurement processes and procedures.
• Negotiating supplier agreements, pricing and commercial terms to achieve best value.
• Monitoring supplier performance, market trends and opportunities for cost savings.
• Ensuring procurement policies and processes are consistently followed.
• Resolving supplier issues relating to pricing, quality, delivery and invoicing.
• Producing procurement reports and KPI updates to support business reviews and decision-making.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Negotiation

Supplier relationships

Lean inventory management

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

CIPS qualification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Senior Buyer

Location: Chesterfield

Salary: Up to 50,000

The Opportunity

We are working with a well-established engineering and manufacturing business that is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Buyer to join its procurement function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially driven procurement professional with experience in steel fabrication, engineering, manufacturing or a similar industrial environment.

You will take ownership of purchasing activities, supplier relationships and procurement improvements, helping to ensure a reliable supply of materials, goods and services while driving cost efficiencies, process improvements and operational performance.

The role will also involve providing leadership and guidance to a small procurement team, supporting their development and helping to implement best-practice purchasing processes.

The Role

As Senior Buyer, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the procurement of materials, goods and services, balancing cost, quality and delivery.
• Leading and supporting a small procurement team through coaching, mentoring and guidance.
• Building and maintaining strong supplier relationships and ensuring continuity of supply.
• Identifying supply chain risks and implementing effective solutions and alternative sourcing options.
• Supporting continuous improvement across procurement processes and procedures.
• Negotiating supplier agreements, pricing and commercial terms to achieve best value.
• Monitoring supplier performance, market trends and opportunities for cost savings.
• Ensuring procurement policies and processes are consistently followed.
• Resolving supplier issues relating to pricing, quality, delivery and invoicing.
• Producing procurement reports and KPI updates to support business reviews and decision-making.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• Proven purchasing or procurement experience within steel fabrication, engineering, manufacturing or a similar industrial environment - essential.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and improving procurement performance.
• Knowledge of lean inventory management and supply chain optimisation.
• A proven ability to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or service.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail with a structured and organised approach.
• Good IT skills, including strong Excel capability.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to influence and engage teams across the business.
• CIPS qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why Join?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established and growing business where you can make a genuine impact. You'll have the opportunity to develop supplier partnerships, improve procurement processes, support a small team and play an important role in the company's ongoing operational and commercial performance.