Senior Buyer – Manufacturing

Technical Placements; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment firm is seeking a Senior Buyer with engineering and manufacturing experience for a 12-month maternity cover in Maidstone. The ideal candidate will have strong management skills and extensive experience in purchasing, particularly with SAP. Responsibilities include supervising a team, managing purchase orders, and sourcing parts. This role offers a competitive salary and a generous completion bonus, making it an excellent opportunity for a pivotal position in a global organization.

Benefits

Generous completion bonus

Great salary

Qualifications

• Experience in a supervisory purchasing role preferably within a manufacturing or heavy engineering environment.
• Excellent SAP MM experience within a purchasing role.
• Experienced negotiator with a proven track record of cost reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the implementation of a category management approach.
• Utilise SAP MRP to manage inventoried spare parts.
• Supervise the purchasing team day to day.
• Convert purchase orders in accordance with policy.
• Source non-stock engineering parts.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Management skills

Education

Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply at level 4 or above

Tools

SAP

Job description

Senior Buyer with Engineering / Manufacturing industry experience required near Maidstone Kent. 12 month maternity cover contract. Great salary + generous completion bonus.

Heavy manufacturing site, part of a global group that provides recycled material for the paper packaging industry.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the implementation of a category management approach.
• Utilise SAP MRP to manage inventoried spare parts.
• Day‑to‑day supervision of the purchasing team.
• Conversion of Purchase orders in accordance with the purchasing policy.
• Sourcing non-stock engineering parts.
• Implementing service contracts as required by the business.
• Act as SAP MM key user for the plant.

Using efficient stock control measures to manage the central stores to ensure security of parts, optimum working capital overhead and a high level of stock accuracy.

Senior Buyer candidate requirements

• Highly motivated, analytical with excellent purchasing experience to include good negotiating and communication skills.
• Strong management skills to lead the small team and gain support from all departmental managers for purchasing activities.
• Experience of using SAP with a sound knowledge of MRP.
• Flexible and not work time orientated.

Senior Buyer – Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications

• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply at level 4 or above.
• Extensive experience in a supervisory purchasing role preferably within a manufacturing or heavy engineering environment.
• Excellent SAP MM experience within a purchasing role and with excellent troubleshooting mentality.
• Experienced negotiator with a proven track record of cost reduction initiatives.
• Category Management experience is preferred but not essential.
• Ability to manage a tender process.

Full job description available on request.

This is a great opportunity to become a pivotal member of the group purchasing team.

Please apply or for an informal chat about the role, contact Tim Hill at Technical Placements.