Senior Buyer

Mansell Recruitment Group; Pulborough; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Training and development opportunities

Growth-focused manufacturing business

Job summary

Mansell Recruitment Group seeks an experienced Senior Buyer for a growing electronics manufacturing business in the West Sussex area. The role focuses on strategic supplier management, cost reduction and ensuring material availability to support production and New Product Introductions.

You will negotiate commercial terms, manage supplier performance and drive improvements across the supply chain in collaboration with Engineering, Planning and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Senior Buyer or Buyer role within manufacturing.
• Experience purchasing electronic components, PCBAs or electro-mechanical products is highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
• Excellent commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience developing supplier relationships and improving supplier performance.
• Knowledge of inventory management and production planning principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• CIPS qualification (Level 4+) would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic suppliers and develop long-term relationships.
• Source materials and components, negotiating pricing, lead times and commercial agreements.
• Raise and manage purchase orders through to delivery.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements in quality, delivery and cost.
• Conduct supplier reviews and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support production by ensuring material availability and managing supply issues.
• Convert demand into purchasing plans with Planning.
• Lead cost reduction and value engineering initiatives across commodities.
• Manage supplier involvement in engineering changes and new product introductions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including capacity and single-source suppliers.
• Maintain purchasing data in the ERP/MRP system.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company procedures and quality standards.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving abilities

Excel skills

Education

CIPS qualification (Level 4+)

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Company

A well-established and growing manufacturer of highly engineered electronic products is looking to recruit an experienced Senior Buyer to strengthen its procurement team.

Supplying innovative technology into a range of high-tech industries, the company designs and manufactures specialist products used in demanding industrial and engineering applications. This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative business where procurement plays a key role in supporting production, continuous improvement and long-term growth.

The Role

As a Senior Buyer, you will take ownership of strategic suppliers and assigned commodity groups, ensuring the timely supply of quality materials whilst driving cost reduction and supplier performance. Working closely with Engineering, Production, Planning and Quality, you’ll play a key role in supporting manufacturing operations, new product introductions and continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic suppliers and develop strong long-term supplier relationships.
• Source materials and components, negotiating pricing, lead times and commercial agreements.
• Raise and manage purchase orders through to delivery.
• Monitor supplier performance, driving improvements in quality, delivery and cost.
• Conduct supplier reviews and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support production by ensuring material availability and managing supply issues.
• Work alongside Planning to convert demand into effective purchasing plans.
• Lead cost reduction and value engineering initiatives across assigned commodities.
• Manage supplier involvement in engineering changes and new product introductions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including capacity, obsolescence and single-source suppliers.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data within the ERP/MRP system.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company procedures and quality standards.
• Provide support to the Purchasing Manager when required.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will have experience working within a manufacturing or engineering environment and be confident managing suppliers, negotiating commercial agreements and improving supply chain performance.

You should have:

• Previous experience in a Senior Buyer or Buyer position within manufacturing.
• Experience purchasing electronic components, PCBAs or electro-mechanical products would be highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
• Excellent commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience developing supplier relationships and improving supplier performance.
• Knowledge of inventory management and production planning principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Good Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• CIPS qualification (Level 4 or above) would be beneficial.

Package

Competitive salary

Company benefits

• Pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Opportunity to join a growing, technology-led manufacturing business