Materials Buyer

New Appointments Group; Margate; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Flexi hours Monday to Friday

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Collaborative team environment

Opportunities for growth and dev't

Impactful in fast-paced business

Job summary

New Appointments Group is seeking an organised and proactive Materials Buyer for a 14-month fixed term contract. The role focuses on ensuring timely availability of machined parts, electronic components, and raw materials, with a base across East Kent towns such as Canterbury, Deal, Margate, and surrounding areas.

The Buyer will procure materials, manage lead times and vendor performance, optimise inventory using SAP, and collaborate with Sales, Planning, Ops, and Customer Service to minimise

Qualifications

• Solid experience in purchasing or materials management within a manufacturing setting.
• Knowledge of ERP systems (SAP a plus).
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communicator and team collaborator.
• Organised, detail-focused, and results-driven.

Responsibilities

• Procure a range of critical materials, managing batch sizes, lead times, and vendor performance.
• Use SAP to optimise inventory levels and streamline material planning.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Planning, Ops, Customer Service) to minimise backlogs and ensure part availability.
• Support forecasting to keep supply aligned with business demand.
• Track and expedite purchase orders.
• Produce reports on vendor performance, cost variance, and more.

Skills

Purchasing

Materials management

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication

Team collaboration

Organised/Detail-focused

Tools

SAP

Job description

We are looking for an organised and proactive procurement professional with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for keeping operations running smoothly. Join an established team on a 14‑month fixed term contract as a Materials Buyer, where you'll play a key role in ensuring the timely availability of essential components - from machined parts to electronic equipment and raw materials.

You will be based in any of the following East Kent towns; Canterbury, Deal, Margate, Sandwich, Ramsgate Dover, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Folkestone.

• Competitive salary and benefits, flexi hours Monday to Friday
• 25 days holiday per year + bank holidays
• A collaborative team environment that values innovation and initiative
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• The chance to make a real impact in a fast-paced business

The Buyer's Job

• Procure a range of critical materials, managing batch sizes, lead times, and vendor performance.
• Use SAP to optimise inventory levels and streamline material planning.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Sales, Planning, Ops, Customer Service) to minimise backlogs and ensure part availability.
• Support forecasting to keep supply aligned with business demand.
• Track and expedite purchase orders.
• Produce reports on vendor performance, cost variance, and more.

The Buyer

• Solid experience in purchasing or materials management within a manufacturing setting
• Knowledge of ERP systems (SAP a plus)
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Excellent communicator and team collaborator
• Organised, detail-focused, and results-driven

This is a busy, fast paced, and varied role where no two days are the same, offering excellent exposure to purchasing, material planning, supplier management, and logistics within a manufacturing environment.

Working closely with colleagues across the business and a supplier network, you will play a key role in ensuring materials are available to meet customer demand and production schedules. You'll be joining an experienced team that works collaboratively to solve challenges, deliver results and provide the highest levels of customer service.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in line with the Equality Act 2010. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.