Senior Buyer

SF Partners; Hinckley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners, in Leicestershire, seeks a commercially driven Senior Buyer for an onsite, full-time permanent role. You will build supplier relationships, lead sourcing, and negotiate on costs while aligning purchasing with business goals.

The role demands strong analytical skills, practical buying experience in manufacturing, and the ability to influence across departments. You’ll help shape supplier strategy and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing or procurement within manufacturing or related environment.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Ability to analyze data and impact stock and cash flow.
• Willingness to own processes and propose improvements.

Responsibilities

• Build productive supplier relationships ensuring competitive pricing and reliable service.
• Lead sourcing activities, negotiate agreements, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Use purchasing data to inform availability, demand and stock investment decisions.
• Introduce practical process improvements to make purchasing more efficient.
• Collaborate with operations and technical teams to adapt to changing priorities.
• Manage supplier challenges and keep business requirements on track.
• Share knowledge to strengthen the purchasing function.

Skills

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation

Cost reduction

Data analysis

Cross-department collaboration

Procurement experience

Education

CIPS qualification

Tools

Purchasing software

Job description

Job Title: Senior Buyer

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Location: Hinckley, Leicestershire - Onsite

Salary: GBP45,000 - GBP50,000

Ready for a buying role where your ideas and experience will genuinely count?

SF Partners are partnering with an established manufacturing business in Leicestershire to recruit a commercially driven Senior Buyer.

We're looking for someone who enjoys the challenge of buying well, building great supplier relationships and finding smarter ways of working.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Buyer who wants more than simply keeping purchasing activity moving. You'll have the freedom to use your judgement, contribute ideas and play an important part in how the business manages its suppliers, costs and materials.

It's a busy environment where priorities can change, so you'll need to enjoy variety, think on your feet and be comfortable taking responsibility.

What will you be doing?

You’ll be working with colleagues across the business to make sure purchasing decisions support both commercial objectives and day-to-day operations.

• Building productive relationships with suppliers, ensuring the business receives competitive pricing, reliable service and strong commercial value.
• Taking the lead on sourcing activities, negotiating agreements and identifying opportunities to improve purchasing costs.
• Using purchasing and supply chain information to make informed decisions around availability, demand and stock investment.
• Reviewing existing ways of working and introducing practical improvements that make purchasing more efficient.
• Working collaboratively with operational and technical colleagues to understand their requirements and respond to changing priorities.
• Managing supplier challenges, finding solutions and ensuring business requirements remain on track.
• Identifying opportunities to strengthen supplier partnerships, improve service and reduce unnecessary costs.
• Sharing your knowledge and experience with colleagues, supporting a positive and effective purchasing function.

What are we looking for?

We're interested in speaking with experienced Buyers, Senior Buyers or procurement professionals who enjoy combining commercial thinking with a practical, hands-on approach.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• A background in purchasing or procurement within manufacturing, engineering, industrial supply or a related environment.
• Confidence negotiating with suppliers and making commercially sound decisions.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• An understanding of how purchasing decisions affect stock, cash flow and operational performance.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with purchasing systems and data.
• The ability to build relationships across different departments and communicate effectively at all levels.
• A genuine interest in improving processes, solving problems and contributing ideas.
• A CIPS qualification would be advantageous, although we're equally interested in people who have developed strong procurement expertise through practical experience.

The person behind the CV matters

Our client isn't looking for someone who simply ticks every technical box. They’re looking for someone who brings energy, initiative and a positive approach to their work. Someone who enjoys a challenge, takes ownership and isn't afraid to suggest a better way of doing things.

You’ll be joining a business where collaboration matters and where your ability to build relationships, respond to challenges and make things happen will be just as valuable as your purchasing knowledge.

Why consider this opportunity?

• An established manufacturing environment with varied purchasing challenges.
• The opportunity to take ownership and influence commercial decisions.
• Scope to introduce improvements and contribute to how the purchasing function operates.
• A role combining supplier relationships, commercial negotiations and operational problem-solving.

THIS IS AN ONSITE BASED ROLE - NO HYBRID WORKING IS OFFERED.