Category Buyer

Allstaff; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment specialist is seeking a Category Buyer for a full-time, permanent role in Newport Pagnell. This position involves managing a portfolio of categories and suppliers, product sourcing, and market trend analysis. The ideal candidate will have buying experience, particularly in the packaging or food industry, and strong negotiation skills. The role offers a salary of £45-50k with the flexibility to work in the office for 3 days and remotely for 2 days per week.

Qualifications

• Proven buying experience from overseas is essential.
• Experience of buying packaging, cleaning materials, or consumables essential.
• Understanding of production processes and costing models.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of categories, products & suppliers.
• Product sourcing from local and international suppliers.
• Monitor market trends analysis to ensure competitiveness.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Attention to detail

Self-motivated

Education

CIPS preferred

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Buyer based in Newport Pagnell for one of our clients on a Full Time Permanent basis.

Summary of the Category Buyer role

Salary: £45-50k

Location: Newport Pagnell

Type of Contract: Permanent, Full-time

Hours: 37.5 hours, 830am - 5pm, hybrid 3 days in office, 2 days from home

Responsibilities of the Category Buyer

• Manage a portfolio of categories, products & suppliers to maximise profit
• Product sourcing from local and international suppliers
• Monitor market trends analysis to ensure product ranges are competitive
• Cost price negotiation
• Product specification creation and management through the internal QA process
• Supplier relationship management, creating quotes and visiting factories
• Accountable for new product development with factories

Requirements for a successful Category Buyer

• Knowledge of the Away from Home Market preferred but proven buying experience from overseas is essential
• Experience of buying packaging (especially in the food industry), cleaning materials, disposables or consumables essential - from overseas
• Strong negotiation skills and self motivated
• Understanding of production processes and costing models to ensure best cost solutions
• Attention to detail and flexible work ethos
• CIPS preferred

About Allstaff Recruitment

We’re an independent recruitment specialist based in Bedfordshire, supporting businesses across Bedford, Milton Keynes, and surrounding areas. We recruit for permanent, temporary, and contract roles across multiple sectors.

Check out our jobs page for our latest vacancies in your area and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Thank you for your interest in this role. One of our Recruitment Specialists will review your application shortly. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we can’t respond to everyone directly. If you don’t hear from us within seven days, please assume you have not been successful this time.