Senior Buyer

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Generous holiday allowance

Volunteer leave (3 days)

Job summary

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions in Havant is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead procurement for the BioPure site, drive supplier performance, and ensure material availability while aligning with cost, quality, and delivery goals.

You will manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, negotiate contracts, develop SOPs, train colleagues, and collaborate with Global Strategic Procurement and Finance to support production priorities and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement experience, preferably in biopharma or life sciences.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP purchasing systems; MS Dynamics 365 desirable.
• Strong organisational, communication and negotiation skills.
• Data proficiency with Excel for analysis and reporting.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive supplier negotiations.
• Comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; able to prioritise.

Responsibilities

• Lead site procurement as operational procurement lead for BioPure Havant.
• Manage ERP Purchase Requisition workflow and POs.
• Oversee supplier onboarding, contracts, and governance.
• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve best value and performance.
• Develop SOPs and train team; monitor supplier performance.
• Collaborate with Finance, Planning, Production, and Warehouse teams.

Skills

Procurement Experience

MS Dynamics 365

MRP/ERP systems

Organisation

Negotiation

Excel / Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Adaptability

Time management

Collaboration

CIPS status

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Senior Buyer

Location: BioPure - UK - Havant

Location Type: Hybrid

Website: https://www.wmfts.com/en/

Group: https://www.spiraxgroup.com/

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions is part of Spirax Group, a FTSE100 and FTSE4Good multi-national industrial engineering Group with expertise in the control and management of steam, electric thermal solutions, peristaltic pumping and associated fluid technologies.

When you join us, you will be integrated into a cooperative and encouraging team, participate in challenging yet critical work, and experience ongoing growth opportunities to help you achieve your full potential. Visit our website to learn more.

Job Summary

We are seeking a talented and motivated Senior Buyer to join our dynamic team.

Key Responsibilities

• As Senior Buyer at BioPure, you will act as the operational procurement lead for the site, accountable for procurement execution, supplier performance, material availability and deployment of procurement processes. You will deliver best value across cost, quality, delivery and sustainability while supporting operational priorities and divisional procurement objectives.

You will source and procure goods and services in line with divisional procurement and category strategies, preparing specifications, managing competitive bidding processes and negotiating within agreed contracts and governance. You will oversee the full site procurement lifecycle, from purchase requisitions and purchase orders through to supplier performance, continuity of supply and compliance with internal policies and budgetary controls.

In this senior role, you will proactively identify continuous improvement opportunities, lead site procurement projects, and support and develop others while working closely with Global Strategic Procurement and Category Management teams.

What you’ll be doing

• Oversee the Purchase Requisition process within the ERP, ensuring smooth workflow and timely approval of requests that convert into purchase orders.
• Manage supplier onboarding and ensure compliance with preferred suppliers, contracts, Group controls and procurement governance.
• Execute sourcing activities in line with divisional procurement and category strategies to support delivery performance and internal and external customer needs.
• Conduct regular price negotiations to ensure competitiveness against previous spend, existing contracts, and market benchmarks.
• Ensure ERP has accurate parameters to drive accurate net requirements and optimal service to customers. These will be regularly updated including lead-times, safety stocks, MOQ’s, shelf life, etc
• Develop, update and train clear Standard Operating Procedures. Support and develop others in the team. Manage critical supplier performance, including delivery performance, recovery plans and the development of reliable supplier relationships.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure timely payment of purchased items.
• Collaborate with Planning, Production and Warehouse teams to support daily manufacturing priorities, production schedules and material availability.
• Work closely with the inbound Warehouse team to resolve delivery and receipt issues.
• Provide procurement updates in relevant forums, including daily stand-up meetings, and manage timely escalation of delivery, pricing or performance issues with key suppliers.
• Ensure purchased materials meet minimum requirements and align inventory levels with usage rates to prevent overstocking.
• Lead shortage management and propose alternative sourcing solutions to protect continuity of supply and mitigate operational risk.
• Expedite deliveries and coordinate supplier recovery actions when required to meet business priorities.
• Conduct inventory analysis and take action to improve inventory health.
• Drive continuous improvement in site procurement processes, tools and systems to improve efficiency and value. Lead projects and contribute actively to cross-functional improvement opportunities.
• Work with Global Procurement leadership to implement and support procurement strategy at site level.
• Support the deployment of category strategies at site level, monitoring supplier count, pricing, delivery, quality and responsiveness.
• Identify, manage and elevate supply chain risks, ensuring supply continuity and alignment with supplier agreements, business performance and cost objectives.
• Collect and maintain supplier compliance documentation for quality and audit purposes.
• Ensure adherence to site Quality Management Systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 13485) and departmental health and safety standards.

Skills/Experience

• Procurement Experience: Proven 5+ years’ experience in Procurement. Experience in biopharma/life sciences sector is advantageous but not essential.
• Systems Knowledge: Familiarity with MRP/ERP purchasing systems is required; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is desirable.
• Strong organisational, communication and negotiation skills
• Data Proficiency: Confident using Microsoft Excel for data analysis, reporting and decision-making.
• Influencing Skills: Strong interpersonal and influencing abilities, with a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement and supplier negotiation.
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Time Management: Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines effectively.
• Collaboration: A team player who can build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and suppliers.
• CIPS qualified (or working towards)

Benefits

• A competitive salary
• Flexible working arrangements
• A generous holiday allowance
• Three days’ paid volunteering leave
• Additional support and benefits through our Everyone is Included Group Inclusion Plan

Everyone is Included at Spirax Group

We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential. For us, that means supportive teams and strong relationships where everyone’s contribution is valued - across social and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, gender identities, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and everything else that makes us human and unique.

We want everyone to be able to make their difference here, so we will always consider requests for flexible working.

We know that everyone needs some extra help from time to time too, so we have introduced a range of additional benefits through our Group Inclusion Commitments. These include

• Gender-neutral parental leave
• 15 days of extra paid caregiver leave
• Paid time off and support for anyone experiencing pregnancy loss or domestic abuse
• Menopause-friendly workplace principles and more

Learn more at spiraxgroup.com/inclusion.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Company Overview

At Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions, part of Spirax Group, we are driven by innovation and are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is empowered to make a difference. As a world leader in manufacturing peristaltic pumps and associated fluid path technologies for the life sciences and process industries, we offer a wide range of products, including tubing, specialised filling systems and products for single-use applications.

Our shared Purpose is to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders as we engineer a more efficient, safer and sustainable world. Our technologies play an essential role in critical industrial processes and industrial equipment across industries as diverse as Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Power Generation, Semiconductors and Healthcare. With customers in 116 countries, we provide the solutions that sit behind the production of many items used in daily life, from baked beans to mobile phones!

Our inclusive culture and Values, unites us, guides our decisions and inspires us everywhere that we operate. We support our colleagues to make their difference for each other as well as customers, communities, suppliers, our planet and shareholders by creating a truly equitable working environment where everyone feels included.