Lead Buyer

IDEX; Whetstone; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

CVI Infrared Optics, part of IDEX MSS, seeks a Lead Buyer to manage complex purchases, RFQs and supplier performance within the Supply Chain. The role requires data-driven decision making and cross-functional collaboration to support strategic sourcing and timely material availability.

Based in the United Kingdom, you will drive procurement excellence, negotiate favourable terms, and maintain strong supplier relationships while upholding compliance and best practices.

Qualifications

• Must have extensive procurement experience and proven supplier relationship management.
• Ability to analyse data to drive informed purchasing decisions and cost savings.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of successful cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Support PO placement from request through supplier acknowledgement.
• Negotiate delivery schedules to improve Inventory Turns KPI.
• Supplier development including onboarding, quality concerns and deviation management.
• Provide tactical cost analysis for strategic buying decisions.
• Maintain Supplier Matrix to support RFQ activity and supplier selection.
• Manage supplier escalations, including expediting and freight issues.
• Own KPI dashboards and analyse supplier performance for development insights.
• Review supplier spend patterns to guide future purchasing direction.
• Bridge communications between internal stakeholders and suppliers to resolve issues quickly.
• Lead the daily procurement meetings and drive timely closure of actions.

Skills

Procurement

Supplier relations

Negotiation

ERP/MRP

Data-driven insights

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

English proficiency

Tools

ERP/MRP

Excel

Job description

CVI Infrared Optics is a part of the IDEX Materials, Science and Solutions (MSS) platform. Besides our unique capabilities in manufacturing large optics from visible to longwave, we are backed by the combined capabilities of our platform. CVI offers a full spectrum of optical engineering, manufacturing, and assembly expertise. Together we can support all our customers with more engineering expertise, broader capabilities, and extensive manufacturing resources. Since 1982, CVI Infrared Optics has been manufacturing advanced optical components for high performance optronics systems. We have become the leading experts in manufacturing and integration of large optics from visible, and near infrared, to longwave infrared, that can continuously perform in extreme weather climates and harsh conditions. When you need robust optical components and assembly expertise for your mission critical application, we can provide world-class solutions.

Job Purpose

Act as the Lead Buyer within the Supply Chain function by supporting complex purchases, key suppliers and their performance. Provide data-driven insight, resolve escalations and guide purchasing activity to ensure decisions support the supply chain strategy. Strengthen supplier capability awareness, support cross-functional issue resolution and lead the Buyer through best-practice behaviour and clear communication. Act as a key contributor to tactical sourcing decisions by ensuring RFQs are accurate, competitive and aligned with company expectations. Maintain strong awareness of material risk, proactively addressing key delivery concerns, capacity constraints and supplier performance trends. Support continuous improvement across purchasing processes by identifying inefficiencies, recommending corrective actions and reinforcing consistent best-practice behaviours within the team.

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday – 08:30am to 4:30pm - 37.5hrs (30mins unpaid break).

Safety

Follow the site's comprehensive safety regulations, promptly report any risks, hazards, or incidents, and ensure a safe workplace by adhering to all established protocols.

Quality

Produce accurate, high quality work by following clear instructions and guidelines. Maintain strong attention to detail, transparency and communicate issues clearly with practical options to support fast resolution.

Main Duties to Include

• Support PO Placement - Guide CS, Planning and Purchasing from PO request through to supplier acknowledgement.
• Inventory Turns management - Negotiate delivery schedules that directly improve Inventory Turns KPI.
• Supplier Development - Work with internal teams on supplier onboarding, quality concerns and deviation management.
• Strategic Spend support - Collate RFQ data, compare options and provide tactical cost analysis for strategic buying decisions.
• Maintain Supplier Matrix - Own and update the Supplier Matrix to support RFQ activity and supplier selection.
• Procurement Escalations - Manage supplier escalations, including expediting and freight issues and close them out effectively.
• Supplier KPIs & Performance - Own KPI dashboard updates, analyse KPI performance and provide clear data insights to support supplier development.
• Supplier Spend Trend - Review supplier spend patterns and share analysis to guide sustainable supplier focus and future purchasing direction.
• Mediate communication - Bridge conversations between internal stakeholders and suppliers to resolve issues quickly.
• Purchasing Daily Meeting ownership - Own and drive timely closure of issues raised in the Supply Chain Daily Meeting dashboard.
• Lead by Example - Support the Buyer's learning, capability growth and process discipline through inclusivity, clear communication and consistent best practice behaviour.

KPIs / Measures

• Supplier OTD - across materials or high spend consumables
• Lead time adherence - across critical materials
• Tactical cost savings - delivered through negotiations on RFQs and repeat business
• Inventory Turns - supported through improved delivery schedules
• RFQ accuracy - Supplier spend balance accuracy

Growth

In this role, you'll expand your advanced operational expertise across purchasing and supply management by taking ownership of complex PO placement, backlog control, expediting and supplier communication. You'll apply your existing capability to manage higher risk suppliers, resolve escalations and influence purchasing decisions with clear, data driven insight. You'll strengthen your ability to interpret supplier constraints early, provide Planning with reliable supply intelligence and guide cross functional discussions that support stable material flow. You'll enhance your tactical sourcing capability by comparing RFQ outcomes, assessing supplier performance and shaping purchasing recommendations that align with the wider supply chain strategy. As you progress, you'll deepen your awareness of strategic procurement measures, including cost drivers, capacity pressures, supplier behaviours and early indicators of supply risk, enabling you to contribute more effectively to supplier development and longer term improvement initiatives. This role builds the foundation for progression into broader procurement leadership, where you'll influence sourcing direction, supplier capability and cross functional decision making at a higher level.

Key relationships

• Supply Chain - Understanding end to end operations and how purchasing activity supports the full flow.
• Engineering - Managing specification requests, technical queries, and product quality considerations.
• Planning - Supporting demand forecasting, supply continuity, and accurate material availability information.
• Production - Responding to showstoppers, supporting contingency actions, and ensuring material readiness.
• Quality - Coordinating supplier quality assurance, inspection requirements, and quality related communications.
• Finance - Invoice queries, cost analysis, and payment alignment.
• Sales - Supporting project kick offs, customer expectations and On Time Delivery performance.
• Customer Service - Providing accurate lead times, delivery updates, and supply related support.
• Suppliers - Engaging across the supply base, including strategic initiatives, performance management and day-to-day purchasing activity.

Experience

• Established procurement professional
• Supplier relationship management
• ERP/MRP proficiency
• Data driven decision making
• Cross functional collaboration
• Effective negotiation experience
• Team based working
• Exposure to Contract Agreement
• Understanding of T's and C's and Compliance Skills / Abilities
• Strong communication skills
• Clear English proficiency

Additional languages beneficial (not essential)

• Computing skills
• Prioritisation & workload management
• Influencing & driving best outcomes
• ERP discipline & data accuracy
• Analytical capability
• Problem solving ability

Personal Attributes

• Autonomous decision maker
• Commercially aware mindset
• Team focused attitude
• Self drive & determination
• Clear & confident communicator
• Calm under pressure
• Process disciplined behaviour
• Problem solving mindset

IDEX (NYSE: IEX) is a company that has undoubtedly touched your life in some way. In fact, IDEX businesses make thousands of products that are mission-critical components in everyday activities. Chances are the car you're driving has a BAND-IT clamp holding your side airbag safely in place. If you were ever in a car accident, a Hurst Jaws of Life rescue tool may have saved your life. If you or a family member is battling cancer, your doctor may have tested your DNA in a quest to find the best targeted medicine for you. It's likely your DNA test was run on equipment that contains components made by our growing IDEX Health & Science team.