Senior Buyer

KPI Recruiting Ltd; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

KPI Recruiting Ltd is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to join a fast-paced manufacturing business in Stoke-on-Trent. The role focuses on ensuring continuous supply of goods, driving supplier performance and developing purchasing strategies.

You will lead category management, negotiate commercial terms, and mentor team members while contributing to KPI reporting. A CIPS Level 6 qualification and 15–20 years in procurement are preferred.

Qualifications

• 15-20 years of procurement or purchasing experience.
• Experience in strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Strong negotiation, commercial and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Ensure continuous supply of goods, materials and services across the business.
• Lead category management activities and oversee purchase order processing.
• Interpret material requirements and demand across different areas of the business.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships, negotiating terms and resolving issues.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through sourcing and negotiations.
• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities; introduce new suppliers as needed.
• Manage supplier performance through reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support and implement departmental purchasing strategies.
• Develop and monitor KPIs; contribute to reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Improve purchasing processes, reporting and data-led decision-making.
• Provide support with complex supplier and supply chain challenges.
• Mentor and develop colleagues and deputise for Purchasing Director when required.

Skills

Procurement experience

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

MS Office

Education

CIPS Level 6 qualification

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Senior Buyer

Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00am - 16:30pm
Salary: Up to £65,000 per annum

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for an experienced and commercially focused Senior Buyer to join an established business within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic procurement professional to play a key role in ensuring the continuous supply of goods, materials and services, while driving supplier performance, improving commercial outcomes and developing purchasing strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the continuous supply of goods, materials and services across the business
• Lead category management activities and oversee accurate and timely purchase order processing
• Interpret material requirements and demand across different areas of the business
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms and resolving supply issues
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through effective sourcing and supplier negotiations
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities and opportunities to introduce new suppliers
• Manage supplier performance through regular reviews and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support and implement departmental purchasing strategies
• Develop and monitor KPIs, contributing to reporting and stakeholder engagement
• Improve purchasing processes, reporting and data-led decision-making
• Provide support with complex supplier and supply chain challenges
• Mentor and develop colleagues, supporting the wider team and deputising for the Purchasing Director when required

Experience and Skills Required:

• CIPS Level 6 qualification
• Extensive procurement or purchasing experience, ideally within manufacturing
• Strong strategic sourcing experience, including overseas sourcing
• Approximately 15-20 years' experience within a procurement or purchasing function
• Experience within metal fabrication, timber or plastics manufacturing would be advantageous
• Excellent negotiation, commercial and analytical skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Proven experience building and maintaining effective supplier partnerships
• Confident using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Interested?