Senior Buyer – Food – FTC – Hybrid

Novus Recruitment Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Buyer for a fixed-term contract in the food sector. This hybrid role in North West offers a competitive salary of £55k-65k. The ideal candidate will have significant buying experience in food manufacturing, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for quality. You will work closely with the Head of Procurement, lead supplier relationships, and ensure product quality across the supply chain. Flexibility and a supportive culture are key aspects of the role.

Qualifications

• Solid buying experience in food manufacturing, foodservice, or retail.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills.
• Real food industry experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with and report directly to the Head of Procurement.
• Manage supplier relationships and a small team.
• Drive value and quality across the supply chain.
• Ensure high quality across all product categories.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Supplier partnership building

Collaboration

Job description

Senior Buyer – Food – FTC – Hybrid

Food (chilled categories)

FTC 12 months

North West – Hybrid

£55k – 65k plus package

If, as a buyer, you are looking for a foodie business with a strong belief in their teams, then this opening in my client’s structure will be of real interest. This is a fixed term contract for 12 months.

They are constantly pushing the boundaries on quality and offering their customers a bespoke service. The leadership Team have created a culture of creativity and agility, giving them an enviable position in the marketplace. There is flexibility around work life balance (WFH 2 days per week) and a great attitude to people in the business. They set high standards but on meeting the senior team you will understand why they are successful – the energy on site and connectivity across the teams is tangible.

What is the business all about?

• A growing business with a broad portfolio of high-quality products.
• Agile and innovative – no red tape slowing things down.
• Excellent reputation for quality and customer service.
• Robust supply chain strategy.
• A senior team with full support from the SLT who celebrate fresh thinking.

The Senior Buyer – Chilled role highlights are:

• Working closely with and reporting directly to the Head of Procurement.
• Leading a wide range of supplier relationships and managing a small team.
• Driving value and quality across the supply chain.
• Ensuring the highest possible quality is achieved across all product categories.
• Drawing on data insights to shape category and customer opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with the creative development and commercial team.
• Develop a more seamless supply chain to deliver quality and competitive pricing for the end customer.
• Be the go-to expert for your category.

Your background

• Solid buying experience in food manufacturing, foodservice, or retail.
• A sharp commercial edge with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
• Confidence to influence, challenge, and build strong supplier partnerships.
• A natural collaborator who’s also self-motivated to drive projects forward.
• Above all: real food industry experience – that’s essential.

Interviews to be scheduled in the next month so contact us without delay for the next steps in this recruitment process.