Packaging Buyer

Avara Foods Ltd.; Brackley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary from £35,000 per annum

31 days holiday allowance

Pension contribution 6%

Staff canteen & staff shop at discount

Job summary

Avara Foods is seeking a Packaging Buyer to join the Brackley-based Procurement Team. You will identify and procure packaging for retail and food service, focusing on category optimisation and process improvements to meet departmental goals.

With at least 2 years of procurement experience and packaging knowledge, you will manage supplier relationships, negotiate terms, analyse spend, and ensure continuity of supply with minimal waste.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years’ procurement experience, ideally with packaging background.
• Strong analytical and commercial awareness.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management.
• Negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers.
• Negotiate prices and terms; set up contracts as needed.
• Perform spend, contract and market analysis for packaging category.
• Coordinate with sites on lead times and minimum order quantities.
• Source new packaging suppliers ensuring compliance with standards.
• Work with NPD and technical teams for supplier approvals.
• Understand raw material markets and impact on business.
• Plan and deliver against targets and deadlines.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Tendering skills

Decision making under pressure

Cross functional interface

Education

CIPS qualification (ideal)

Job description

About the Role:

Are you highly motivated and have good people skills? Do you have experience with buying/purchasing materials? Looking for an exciting new career opportunity?

As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to Procurement across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Packaging Buyer to join our Procurement Team, based at our Brackley site.

Who are we, and what do we do?

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants.

We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

Purpose of the role:

As a Packaging buyer you will be responsible for identifying and procuring packaging for retail and food service products. The Buyer will focus on category optimisation, process improvement and delivering against individual and departmental goals.

Your key responsibilities as a Packaging Buyer will include:

• Establish and maintain ongoing relationships with preferred suppliers.
• Negotiating prices, agree terms and conditions and where required set up contracts and supply agreements.
• Perform spend, contract and market analysis for packaging category for communication to the wider business.
• Work closely with all sites with management of lead times and minimum order quantities to ensure continuity of supply to site at minimal wastage.
• Source new packaging and suppliers where required ensuring compliance with legislation and standards, including but not limited to Retailer, ethical and environmental.
• Work closely with NPD and technical to ensure supplier approval and product integrity.
• Must have a good understanding of raw material markets through the supply chain of the packaging procured and how they will impact the business.
• Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against targets and project deadlines.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum of 2 years’ procurement experience and ideally have a packaging background
• Ideally working towards CIPS qualification
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to recognise future and market trends
• Knowledge of packaging raw material/commodity markets (although not essential)
• Contract management and supplier experience
• Good commercial awareness
• Communication skills
• Ability to interface with cross functional team and levels in the business
• Confidence and presentation skills
• Ability to make decisions under pressure
• Negotiation skills
• Tendering skills
• Risk management experience desired

What’s in it for you?

As a Packaging Buyer you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.
We offer comprehensive training as well as continuous development as you build your career with us. You can also look forward to benefits that amongst other things include the following:

• From £35,000per annum
• 31days holiday allowance
• Secure contract with long term career development opportunities
• Straight forward pension contribution of6%
• Subsidised staff canteen serving hot food
• Staff shop / staff sales at hugely discounted prices
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted local gym membership
• Salaried Advance Finance
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme
• Access to our Employee Benefit Scheme, which includes unlimited remote GP appointments and unlimited mental health sessions, physiotherapy sessions, medical second opinion consultation, and other discounts and perks, such as savings & discounts on weekly costs.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.