Manufacturing Buyer

Manpower Group (UK); Wallingford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

25 days holiday

Private Healthcare

Job summary

Manpower Group (UK) in Wallingford, Oxfordshire is seeking a Manufacturing Buyer to manage end-to-end procurement, build supplier relationships and drive cost and quality outcomes. You will source, evaluate and onboard suppliers, negotiate contracts, monitor performance, and collaborate with engineering, operations and finance to mitigate supply risks and ensure audit-ready records.

The role emphasizes continuous improvement in procurement processes and spend optimisation, with a competitive

Qualifications

• End-to-end purchasing responsibilities and supplier management.
• Strong ability to negotiate pricing, terms and contracts to meet cost targets.
• Source, evaluate and onboard suppliers in line with business needs.
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and take corrective action when required.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality and finance to resolve supply issues.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and ensure audit readiness.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end purchasing process for assigned commodities.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships to support service levels and delivery performance.
• Source, evaluate, and onboard suppliers including negotiations.
• Negotiate pricing, terms and commercial agreements to meet cost targets.
• Monitor supplier performance with KPIs and take corrective action as needed.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve supply issues.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

TCO understanding

Communication skills

Analytical skills

RFQ processes

Education

CIPS qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Procurement software

Job description

Join a forward-thinking organisation based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire where procurement plays a critical role in delivering reliable products and services to customers. You'll be part of a team that values clear communication, continuous improvement, and practical problem-solving. This is a great opportunity for a Manufacturing Buyer who enjoys building strong supplier relationships, driving cost and quality outcomes, and contributing to long-term supply assurance.
Job Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end purchasing process for assigned commodities, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships to support service levels, quality requirements, and delivery performance.
• Source, evaluate, and onboard suppliers in line with business needs, including conducting supplier comparisons and negotiations.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and commercial agreements to achieve agreed cost and value targets.
• Monitor supplier performance using agreed KPIs and take corrective action where required.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (e.g., engineering, operations, quality, finance) to understand requirements and resolve supply issues.
• Support risk management activities, including identifying supply risks and proposing mitigation plans.
• Maintain accurate procurement records, purchase documentation, and reporting to support audit readiness.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within procurement, including process and spend optimisation.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience in purchasing or procurement, ideally with commodity ownership responsibilities.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Commercial awareness and a solid understanding of total cost of ownership (TCO) and value-based purchasing.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to manage conversations at both operational and strategic levels.
• Analytical capability to review supplier data, identify trends, and support decision-making.
• Working knowledge of procurement processes, including RFQs, supplier evaluation, and contract/commercial management.
• Competent in using procurement and ERP systems, with the ability to manage purchase documentation accurately.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritise workload in a fast-moving environment.
• Relevant procurement qualification such as CIPS (or working towards) is desirable.
• Experience with supplier performance management and corrective action processes.

Competitive salary + Bonus, 25 days holiday, Private Healthcare