Senior Buyer

Vickerstock; Limavady; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid: 1 day WFH per week

Pension: 3% employer / 5% employee

Private medical scheme

Life assurance: 3x annual gross salary

Job summary

Vickerstock is sourcing a Buyer for a manufacturing partner to secure materials, negotiate terms and manage POs. You will collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality and Finance to ensure material availability, on-time delivery and cost control.

The role focuses on supplier evaluation, price negotiation and efficient purchasing processes within a hybrid work setup. Applicants should have strong Excel and ERP experience to drive cost savings.

Qualifications

• Five+ years buying/purchasing experience in high-volume manufacturing.
• Understanding of purchasing procedures, supplier management, stock control and cost control.
• Ability to evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate terms and resolve issues.

Responsibilities

• Source materials, components and services in line with requirements and budgets.
• Obtain and assess supplier quotations, compare pricing, lead times and availability.
• Negotiate prices, payment terms, delivery schedules, and service levels.
• Raise and manage purchase orders; confirm delivery dates and expedite when needed.
• Resolve supplier issues related to pricing, quality, shortages, and delays.
• Coordinate with internal teams to understand demand and plan replenishment.
• Monitor supplier performance and support improvement actions.
• Maintain supplier records, pricing and spend reporting.

Skills

Procurement

Supplier management

Cost control

Negotiation

Data analysis

Education

CIPS qualification (desirable)

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Limavady
Salary: £45,000 +
Job type: Procurement
Industry: Manufacturing

What's in it for you?

• 40-hour working week has flexible start and finish times (standard working hours are 08.00 - 17.30 from Monday to Thursday, 08.00 - 12.00 Friday)
• Hybrid: 1 day per week Working from Home if desired - following a 4 week on site training period
  30 days) per calendar year, inclusive of bank holidays
• Pension: 3% Employer - 5% Employee
• Private Company Medical scheme
• Life Assurance: 3 times annual gross salary
  

Role Overview

Vickerstock are working in partnership with a manufacturing business on the appointment of a Buyer to purchase materials, components and services that support day-to-day production.

As Buyer, you will source suppliers, negotiate commercial terms and manage purchase orders to ensure materials arrive on time, meet specifications and remain within budget.

The Buyer will work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality and Finance to maintain material availability, resolve supply issues and identify opportunities to improve costs and supplier performance.

Buyer Key Responsibilities

• Source materials, components and services in line with business requirements, technical specifications and budgets.
• Obtain and assess supplier quotations, comparing pricing, quality, availability and lead times.
• Negotiate prices, payment terms, delivery schedules and service agreements to secure value for money.
• Raise and manage purchase orders, confirm delivery dates and expedite outstanding materials to minimise production disruption.
• Resolve supplier issues involving pricing, quality, shortages and delayed deliveries.
• Work with internal departments to understand demand, review stock levels and plan replenishment, including identifying slow-moving or obsolete stock.
• Monitor supplier performance across delivery, quality, responsiveness and cost, supporting improvement actions where required.
• Maintain accurate supplier records, pricing and purchasing documentation, and support spend reporting and contract administration.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation and more efficient purchasing processes.
• Ensure purchasing activity follows company procedures, approval requirements and budget controls.

Buyer Criteria

• At least five years' buying or purchasing experience within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• An understanding of purchasing procedures, supplier management, stock control and cost control.
• The ability to evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate commercial terms and resolve purchasing and delivery issues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, for analysing purchasing data and preparing reports.
• For this Buyer position, the following would be desirable:
• Experience purchasing electrical, mechanical, fabricated or engineered components, or working in data centre, electrical, electronics, mechanical, metal fabrication, construction or related manufacturing sectors.
• Experience with ERP purchasing systems, international sourcing, supplier performance improvements or cost-reduction initiatives; a CIPS or equivalent procurement qualification would also be advantageous.