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Senior Buyer

SF Recruitment

England

On-site

GBP 40,000 - 60,000

Full time

25 days ago

Job summary

A fast-growing manufacturing business seeks a Senior Buyer to lead procurement efforts during a period of growth. The successful candidate will develop procurement strategies, manage supplier relationships, and ensure the timely availability of materials, contributing significantly to the company's operational efficiency and success.

Qualifications

  • Proven procurement experience in a manufacturing environment.
  • Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
  • Experience in sourcing strategies and supplier management.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement procurement strategy aligned with business goals.
  • Manage end-to-end procurement of raw materials and components.
  • Build and maintain supplier relationships and drive performance.

Skills

Procurement experience
Negotiation skills
Supplier management
Commercial acumen
Strategic thinking
Proficiency in Excel
Interpersonal skills

Job description

SF Recruitment are working with a fast-growing manufacturing business who manufacture innovative products into the FMCG industry, to recruit a Senior Buyer. An exciting time to join this business during a period of sustained growth.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop, own, and implement a fit-for-purpose procurement strategy aligned with business goals.
  • Manage end-to-end procurement of raw materials, consumables, and production-critical components.
  • Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to ensure supply chain resilience, competitive pricing, and quality standards.
  • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships; lead contract negotiations and performance reviews.
  • Ensure all purchasing activities meet production schedules, balancing cost, lead time, and inventory levels.
  • Work cross-functionally with production, operations, engineering, and finance teams to support new product development, manage material availability, and reduce supply risk.
  • Develop and maintain accurate procurement data, forecasts, and spend reporting to inform decision-making.
  • Monitor and manage supplier performance, driving continuous improvement initiatives in quality, cost, and delivery.
  • Contribute to make-or-buy decisions, cost-saving initiatives, and operational efficiency improvements.
  • Prepare for future growth by identifying opportunities to scale procurement processes and potentially grow a dedicated procurement team.

Skills & Experience Required

  • Proven procurement experience within a manufacturing or engineering-led environment.
  • Strong commercial acumen, with excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
  • Track record of developing and implementing sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value.
  • Experience purchasing raw materials and managing supply for low-volume, high-mix production is highly desirable.
  • Comfortable operating in a standalone role with broad responsibility.
  • Hands-on, proactive mindset with the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
  • High level of proficiency in Excel and procurement-related systems.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across departments.
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