Lead Buyer - Value-Stream & Supply Chain, Hybrid

Thorlabs; Ely; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributed Pension Scheme

Group Life Cover

Private Health Care

Group Income Protection & more.

Job summary

Thorlabs is seeking a Lead Buyer to oversee the Purchasing team, align with demand, and ensure uninterrupted production. You will develop a systemic approach to resilience, lead value-stream replenishment initiatives, and collaborate with the Strategic Supply Chain Manager to monitor KPIs.

The role requires strong BOM analysis, supplier negotiations, and data-driven decision making, with hybrid working hours and a focus on proactive risk management.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in a relevant field.
• Previous Purchasing or supply chain experience and project management.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Ability to train, mentor and present new ideas.
• Translate customer demand at top-SKU level into component-level purchasing requirements via BOM analysis.
• Strong negotiation to achieve target margins.
• Manage vendor accounts and monitor KPIs.
• Calculate Kanban quantities and replenishment triggers.
• Strong analytical skills to draw actionable insights from data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monitoring and analysis of purchasing and supply chain performance metrics and report to BU Leaders.
• Regularly review product families and provide weekly updates to BU Leader and Strategic Supply Chain Manager.
• Coordinate transfer of new products from R&D to production ensuring material availability and supplier readiness.
• Lead the design and implementation of value-stream replenishment systems to optimise material flow and support uninterrupted production.
• Collaborate with Planning to understand demand rates and forecast requirements.
• Lead quarterly performance reviews for key product families and monitor supplier metrics (delivery, quality, OTIF).
• Audit Kanban and replenishment triggers and align stock with demand and production needs.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supply process.
• Proactively manage supplier relationships and mitigate risks with timely reporting.
• Lead supplier negotiations, onboarding, and scorecards; maintain blanket order coverage.

Skills

BOM analysis

Data analysis

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Forecasting

Education

Degree qualified (or equivalent) in relevant field

Tools

Microsoft D365

Job description

Thorlabs is seeking a Lead Buyer to oversee the Purchasing team, align with demand, and ensure uninterrupted production. You will develop a systemic approach to resilience, lead value-stream replenishment initiatives, and collaborate with the Strategic Supply Chain Manager to monitor KPIs.

The role requires strong BOM analysis, supplier negotiations, and data-driven decision making, with hybrid working hours and a focus on proactive risk management.