Category Buyer

Blue Earth Foods Ltd; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based food company is seeking a procurement specialist to manage supplier relationships and enhance supply chain efficiency. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in procurement within the chilled food sector, strong negotiation skills, and is adept at managing compliance with food safety standards. This full-time position includes excellent benefits such as 33 days of holiday and a pension contribution.

Benefits

33 days holiday

Life assurance at 4 x salary

4% company pension contributions

Staff sales

Retailer discounts and assistance programmes

Qualifications

• 24 years of experience in procurement, preferably in chilled food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of food safety and regulatory compliance standards.
• Ability to influence and motivate others.

Responsibilities

• Manage supply chain and supplier compliance.
• Analyze market trends for cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with teams to align procurement strategies.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Vendor management

Knowledge of cold chain logistics

Effective communication

Ability to work under pressure

Adapting to change

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Overview

Proactively address and resolve issues related to delivery delays, inventory shortages, and quality concerns. Negotiate pricing, contract terms, and conditions with suppliers to ensure optimal value; conduct benchmarking where appropriate. Maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers while actively identifying and evaluating new sourcing opportunities. Monitor and evaluate supplier performance, including quality, reliability, and adherence to delivery schedules. Collaborate cross-functionally with production, technical, new product development (NPD), and warehouse teams to align procurement strategies with operational requirements. Maintain accurate and current records of supplier contracts and purchasing commitments. Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the supply chain function to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Analyse market trends and perform cost analysis to identify and implement cost-saving opportunities. Support NPD initiatives by sourcing raw materials, ingredients, and samples required for product trials. Work closely with the technical team to ensure compliance and continuity of A-list approved suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Management & Compliance
• Cost Management & Value Delivery
• Cross-Functional Alignment
• Procurement process improvements

Qualifications

• Minimum 24 years of experience in procurement, preferably within chilled food or perishable goods manufacturing.
• Proven negotiation and vendor management skills
• Knowledge of cold chain logistics and perishable inventory control.
• Working knowledge of food safety and regulatory compliance standards
• Familiarity with ERP systems
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple time-sensitive projects.
• Effective communicator both verbal & written.
• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing business environment.
• Ability to influence & motivate others.
• Understanding of the UK supply base & retail

Work Details

Hours of work: 07:30-16:00 Monday - Friday

Benefits

• 33 days holiday
• Life assurance at 4 x salary
• 4% company pension contributions
• Staff sales
• Benefits platform - retailer discounts, GP hotline, Employee Assistance Programme
• LNKD1_UKTJ