Senior Buyer

Ford & Stanley Recruitment; Newport; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Buyer in Newport, offering a hybrid working model with a competitive salary between £42,000 and £48,000. The ideal candidate will manage procurement of metal components and must possess strong negotiation skills and experience with SAP and Excel. This role provides fantastic work-life balance, promoting a culture of growth with support for further qualifications.

Benefits

Flexible working

1 pm finish on Fridays

Support for CIPS completion

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement within a technical engineering or manufacturing context.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and 3D models.
• Solid understanding of metal components utilized in rolling stock.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement processes for machined and sheet metal parts.
• Conduct negotiations to achieve cost savings.
• Utilize SAP and Excel for managing purchase orders.

Skills

Procurement management

Understanding of metal components

Negotiation skills

SAP proficiency

Advanced Excel

Technical drawing interpretation

Spanish language skills

Tools

SAP

Excel

PowerBI

Job description

Senior Buyer (Direct) | Newport (Hybrid) | £42,000 - £48,000 | Permanent

The Opportunity

A Global Leader in Rail Manufacturing is looking for a strategic Senior Buyer to join their Newport facility. This role offers a fantastic work‑life balance with a hybrid working model and a 1 pm finish every Friday. You will be responsible for the procurement of metal components that form the core of their world‑class rolling stock. The company is renowned for promoting from within and will fund further qualifications for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement of machined and sheet metal parts, ensuring alignment with build schedules.
• Interpret and review technical drawings and 3D models to source accurately.
• Lead negotiations to drive cost savings, maintaining a track record of value‑added results.
• Utilise SAP and Excel to manage POs, analyse quotes, and identify data discrepancies.
• Manage an international supply chain, including infrequent travel to European Head Offices and local supplier visits.

The Candidate

You are a robust procurement professional from a technical engineering or manufacturing background. You must be able to read technical drawings and have a solid understanding of metal components. Experience with SAP and advanced Excel is essential (PowerBI is a plus). If you are working towards CIPS, the company will support your completion. Spanish language skills are a benefit but not essential.

Location

Newport (3 days on‑site, 2 days remote)

Salary

£42,000 – £48,000 + flexible working + 1 pm Friday finish.

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom. Ford & Stanley TalentWise specialises in blue‑collar trade & technical services – permanent and temporary. Ford & Stanley Recruitment specialises in white‑collar spanning all company functions with specialist verticals within Digital, Rail Engineering, Civils & Infrastructure, General Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics both permanent and contract. Ford & Stanley Executive Search specialises in executive search & interim solutions in the UK, North America, Middle East and Europe. Ford & Stanley Genius Performance focuses on accelerating performance through coaching, inspiration, training and focused support. Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an ongoing basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We treat everyone equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, or political beliefs, and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.