Procurement - NPD Buyer

Finsbury Food Group; Hamilton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working available

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Death in Service Benefit

Employee discounts

Refer a Friend Scheme

Learning & Development opportunities

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Finsbury Food Group is seeking an NPD Buyer to lead sourcing of ingredients, raw materials and packaging for new products. You will work with NPD teams to define requirements, identify suppliers, obtain samples and quotes, and ensure compliance with quality, technical and regulatory standards.

You will play a central role in costings, feasibility assessments and supply-risk monitoring, collaborating with Technical, Operations and Supply Chain teams to ensure scalable launches on time and within

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, supply chain, or food manufacturing.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational and project coordination abilities.
• Ability to interpret technical information and specs.
• Strong communication skills with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience with ERP or MRP systems desirable.

Responsibilities

• Source ingredients, raw materials and packaging for new products.
• Collaborate with NPD teams to understand requirements and obtain supplier samples/quotes.
• Prepare accurate costings and assess feasibility and potential supply risks.
• Support supplier negotiations on pricing, lead times and MOQs.
• Maintain supplier data and monitor project progress to align launches.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

Organisational skills

Interpreting technical specs

Communication skills

MS Office / Excel

ERP/MRP familiarity

Tools

ERP systems

MRP systems

Job description

Competitive Finsbury Food Group is one of the UK's leading speciality bakery manufacturers, supplying a broad range of bakery products across retail and foodservice. Our success is built on innovation, operational excellence, and the talented people who make it happen every day.

Location: Lightbody, Hamilton Shift: Monday-Friday Salary: Competitive Finsbury Food Group is one of the UK's leading speciality bakery manufacturers, supplying a broad range of bakery products across retail and foodservice. Our success is built on innovation, operational excellence, and the talented people who make it happen every day.

At Finsbury Food Group, innovation is at the heart of what we do. As an NPD Buyer, you will play a critical role in supporting the development and launch of new products to life by sourcing the ingredients, raw materials, and packaging that make them possible. This role may involve occasional travel to suppliers, manufacturing sites and industry events, as well as supporting factory trials and product launches when required. It offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of innovation, helping to bring new products to market while shaping supplier partnerships and delivering commercial value for the business.

As an NPD Buyer, you will be responsible for sourcing ingredients, raw materials and packaging solutions that support the development and launch of new products. You will work closely with NPD teams to understand product requirements, identify suitable suppliers, obtain samples and quotations, and ensure all materials meet quality, technical and regulatory requirements.

You will play a key role throughout the NPD process, providing procurement expertise, preparing accurate costings, assessing feasibility, and identifying any potential supply risks. Working collaboratively with Technical, Operations and Supply Chain colleagues, you will help ensure new products can be successfully scaled up and launched in line with project timelines and customer expectations.

Using your strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills, you will develop and maintain effective supplier relationships, benchmark costs, analyze pricing structures and identify opportunities for cost optimisation. You will support supplier negotiations around pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities and contractual arrangements, helping to deliver value while maintaining service and quality standards.

The role also involves maintaining accurate product and supplier data, monitoring project progress and ensuring procurement activities remain aligned with launch schedules. You will support sustainability, compliance and ethical sourcing initiatives while keeping up to date with market trends, ingredient availability and potential supply chain risks.

As part of the wider Procurement team, you will contribute to continuous improvement activities across the business. This includes supporting cost-saving initiatives, evaluating alternative materials and suppliers, and helping to develop sourcing strategies that support innovation, efficiency and long-term business success. Through strong cross-functional relationships and effective communication, you will act as a key link between innovation and commercial delivery.

This is what you'll actually do!

You will be responsible for sourcing ingredients, raw materials and packaging solutions that support the development and launch of new products. You will work closely with NPD teams to understand product requirements, identify suitable suppliers, obtain samples and quotations, and ensure all materials meet quality, technical and regulatory requirements.

As an NPD Buyer, you will play a key role throughout the NPD process, providing procurement expertise, preparing accurate costings, assessing feasibility, and identifying any potential supply risks. Working collaboratively with Technical, Operations and Supply Chain colleagues, you will help ensure new products can be successfully scaled up and launched in line with project timelines and customer expectations.

Ideally this is you!

Essential

• Previous experience in procurement, supply chain, or food manufacturing (buyer, assistant buyer, purchasing officer, etc.).
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational and project coordination abilities.
• Ability to interpret technical information and specs.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel.
• Results-focused with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable

• Experience within food manufacturing, ingredients procurement or FMCG industries.
• Knowledge of New Product Development processes and stage-gate methodology.
• Experience using ERP or MRP systems.
• Understanding of packaging materials, ingredients and food production environments.
• Experience supporting supplier onboarding and approval processes.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, curious and solutions-focused.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy.
• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Commercially minded with a desire to deliver value and cost efficiencies.
• A collaborative team player who builds positive working relationships.
• Confident communicator who can influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Analytical, with the ability to use data and insights to support decision-making.
• Takes ownership and follows through on commitments.
• Open to learning, development and continuous improvement.
• Supports an inclusive and positive working environment.
• Demonstrates our values of Teamwork, Ownership, Communication, Honesty and Respect and takes pride in delivering high-quality work.

What's in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (available to colleagues and their families)
• Retail discounts through our Benefits Hub platform
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral, T&Cs apply)
• Employee Recognition Awards
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities, including sponsored professional memberships and in-house development programmes
• Hybrid working available once fully established in the role
• The opportunity to be part of a successful, growing organisation with genuine opportunities for career development

Our vision is to be the leading speciality bakery group in the UK, and we know our continued success depends on the talented people who work here. We are passionate about investing in our people, supporting career development, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. If you're looking for a role where you can influence business performance, partner with senior operational leaders, and make a real impact within a growing manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.