Fresh Produce Buyer

Fmk consulting; England; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fresh produce company in the UK is looking for an experienced Fresh Produce Buyer. The role involves managing supplier relationships, executing procurement plans, and requires strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills. The ideal candidate will have FMCG experience and must be proficient in Microsoft Office. This position offers a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

6.6 weeks annual leave incl. bank holidays

Pension scheme

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work Scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable skill and experience in procurement or supply chain, ideally in fresh produce.
• Proven experience as a Buyer in the fresh produce or FMCG industry.
• Excellent communication and strategic planning abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance grower relationships.
• Plan procurement requirements to meet customer needs.
• Execute procurement plans and manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

SAP knowledge

Spanish language skills

Job description

Overview

An exciting role has come up working for one of the top Fresh produce companies in the UK. We are looking for a Fresh Produce Buyer.

We are looking for an experienced Buyer (ideally from the Fresh produce industry; otherwise from the Food industry). The Buyer will work closely with internal and external stakeholders and will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills at multiple levels of the organisation. Besides excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, we are looking for someone who has a proactive approach to balance business and customer needs with the ability to form strong relationships with suppliers and maintain good regular contact.

Main Purpose of the role

• Working with the Buying Manager to develop and enhance grower relationships.

Responsibilities

• Plan procurement requirements so that the needs of the customer are met and supplier relationships are maintained in the most efficient cost-effective way.
• Execute the procurement plan, issue programmes and weekly orders, maintain rolling stock position within the commercial planner, manage consignment tracking, handle claims process, and deputise for the Buying Manager in their absence.
• Keep the sales team updated on stock availability to enable timely buying decisions and secure the best prices.
• Correctly calculate base product costs and ensure these are updated on the cost spreadsheet for negotiation of sales and product costs to make a profit.
• Inform suppliers of any product issues (e.g., methods of transportation, quality issues) early to maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Build business and customer insight by updating knowledge on factors affecting product availability (start/finish of seasons, weather, etc.).
• Stock management and usage in conjunction with supply chain; track and publish stock age reports for the commercial team.
• Compile and coordinate weekly programmes for growers, making daily adjustments to suit business needs.
• Liaise with Buying Admin to ensure arrivals meet set deadlines and monitor quality of arrivals; relay claim notifications to suppliers.
• Monitor conformity of supply, highlighting shortages to the Buying Manager (Program vs Actual Report).
• Maintain transport rates, sea freight/airfreight handling costs, part code details and estimated charges on the in-house system.
• Update and maintain Grower templates with agreed cost prices and maintenance of consignment tracker (estimated claims) to manage profit/loss within the area.
• Assist the finance team with invoices and associated administration processes.
• Adopt a flexible approach as daily tasks can vary due to operational demand; attend 8:00 a.m. Operations meetings to support specific customer issues and requirements as required.
• Participate in end-of-season supplier reviews to capture key aspects for continued procurement excellence.
• Be aware of Group and Company H&S and Environmental Policies, Procedures and Protocols; report accidents, near misses, unsafe acts or conditions and environmental events to the H&S Manager.
• Communicate any procedures or work arrangements you do not understand or feel competent to undertake; cooperate with the Company to ensure work is undertaken effectively and safely.
• Use safety equipment or clothing properly and follow health and safety instructions or training given.
• Any other reasonable duties to meet the needs of the business.

Person Specification

• Demonstrable skill, knowledge and experience at a similar level within a procurement, sales or supply chain function, ideally within the fresh produce sector; FMCG experience is required.
• Proven experience as a Buyer, preferably within the fresh produce industry.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to plan strategically with excellent negotiation skills.
• Able to carry out detailed analysis and present recommendations.
• Driven individual who innovates, adapts and responds to change.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Working knowledge of SAP is beneficial.
• Willingness to travel and operate independently when abroad.
• Spanish language skills (advantage) at intermediate level or higher.
• Possesses strong communication, influencing, negotiation and interpersonal skills; able to operate effectively internally and externally at multiple levels; proactive in balancing business and customer needs and maintaining supplier contact.
• Ability to hold others accountable while maintaining positive relationships and professional conduct.
• Ability to work with a high degree of accuracy with numbers and strong Excel knowledge; Spanish language is advantageous but not essential.
• Confident, reliable, accurate, self-motivated, inquisitive and able to communicate well with colleagues and stakeholders; represent the company at trade shows and events; good IT and health & safety knowledge.

What our client can offer you

A competitive salary; 6.6 weeks annual leave incl. bank holidays; pension scheme; optional company share scheme; learning and development opportunities; free onsite parking; Employee Assistance Program; Cycle to work Scheme.

Working hours

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (40 hours per week) with occasional travel overseas if needed.

How to apply

Send a CV to apply for the Buyer role.