Senior Buyer

Mulberry Recruitment; Hook; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a proactive Senior Buyer for an office-based role in Hook. The successful candidate will manage procurement processes, build and maintain relationships with suppliers, and ensure quality and cost-effectiveness in a diverse product portfolio. The ideal applicant will have strong negotiation skills and experience in procurement within a manufacturing environment. Competitive salary offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in procurement within a low-volume, high-variance manufacturing environment.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement across a diverse product range.
• Nurture partnerships with key suppliers.
• Conduct supplier audits and performance reviews.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supplier management

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Communication skills

Tools

SAP

Job description

Senior Buyer

Salary: £38,000 – £45,000 (depending on experience)
Location: Office-based in Hook with regular supplier site visits

About the Role

We’re looking for a proactive and commercially driven Senior Buyer to take a leading role in managing procurement across a diverse and technically interesting product range.

This is a key position focused on ensuring a reliable supply of components while driving improvements in supplier performance, cost effectiveness, and overall quality.

You’ll take full ownership of supplier relationships—overseeing the onboarding of new vendors, optimising the existing supply base, and building strategic partnerships that support long-term business goals. The product portfolio includes electronic components, motors, fixings, load cells, and other mechanical products.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with key suppliers, driving continuous improvements in quality, cost efficiency, and delivery performance.
• Develop a deep understanding of supplier manufacturing processes and commodity markets to anticipate challenges and champion process enhancements aligned with QCD (Quality, Cost, Delivery) objectives.
• Conduct supplier audits, monthly performance reviews, and manage Vendor Scorecards for key partners.
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks, developing robust contingency plans to ensure supply chain resilience.
• Source, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers across the product range, optimising the supply base to support strategic business goals.
• Implement purchasing strategies—manage call-off orders, agree pricing breaks, and oversee supplier stock holding arrangements.
• Collaborate with internal teams to manage non-conforming materials, ensuring corrective actions are documented, implemented, and closed out effectively.
• Benchmark products across multiple suppliers and select appropriate vendors based on QCD performance.
• Maintain efficient stock levels in line with MRP, production, and customer delivery schedules.
• Lead business-wide change initiatives, coordinating cross-functional departments and mitigating commercial risks.
• Drive continuous improvement across procurement processes and systems.

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience

• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Proven experience in procurement within a low-volume, high-variance manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills.
• Experience with SAP is advantageous but not essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to build productive relationships at all levels.
• Understanding of procurement best practices and continuous improvement principles.

Behavioural Qualities

• Self-aware, open, and honest in all dealings.
• A proactive change agent with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Resilient, optimistic, and pragmatic under pressure.
• Confident, assertive, and composed.
• Collaborative and solutions-focused, engaging effectively across teams.