Senior Buyer - Team Leader

Oxford Instruments Plc; Bristol; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Bristol is seeking an experienced buyer to lead a team, manage suppliers, and drive process improvements. The ideal candidate will have a purchasing qualification and experience in engineering environments. Benefits include a competitive salary, career development opportunities, and various flexible benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Career development

25 days leave

Early finish Fridays

Private healthcare

Share plans

Pension

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Proven track record in process improvement and supplier management.
• Strong compliance practices in procurement.
• Ability to make informed decisions to mitigate business impacts.

Responsibilities

• Manage approved suppliers and collaborate with the Head of Supply Chain.
• Directly manage a team of Buyers, setting objectives.
• Work with planning to ensure timely material orders.
• Develop robust supplier management agreements.
• Drive departmental KPIs and manage order placements.

Skills

Effective relationship building

Strong communication

Excel and data analysis proficiency

ERP/MRP experience

Experience in engineering/production environments

Education

Purchasing qualification (CIPS level 4) or equivalent

Technical degree or HNC/HND

Tools

JD Edwards

SAP

Oracle

Job description

You will also lead and develop a team of buyers, ensuring they excel in both process adherence and performance outcomes, while maintaining our ERP systems to exceptional standards. We are seeking a highly skilled buyer with a proven track record in process improvement, effective supplier management, and strict compliance practices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage approved suppliers with the Head of Supply Chain and implement the best commercial solutions for current and future parts and assemblies.
2. Directly manage a team of Buyers, setting objectives and managing capacity and performance.
3. Work closely with the planning team to meet production schedules, ensuring timely material orders to enable shortage-free kits at build launch.
4. Understand business needs and communicate material availability issues, developing solutions to mitigate impacts on delivery commitments.
5. Develop robust supplier management through Supplier Agreements, Service Level Agreements, Supplier Scorecards, and regular reviews.
6. Collaborate with Engineering, Planning, and Quality teams to ensure supplier support and management.
7. Support Standard Diary meetings and ensure timely completion of delegated actions.
8. Drive departmental KPIs and manage order placement with suppliers, balancing demand, cost, lead time, and inventory targets.
9. Maintain open order reports, update MRP systems, and propose strategies for commodity development and supply chain improvements.
10. Handle tasks such as invoice queries, return to vendor stock, FAI's, lead time reviews, and spot purchases.
11. Encourage innovative ideas and team development, translating business strategies into actionable objectives.
12. Set clear performance standards, challenge team members, and ensure customer focus and commercial awareness.
13. Make informed decisions, anticipate business impacts, and act proactively to prevent issues.
14. Demonstrate confidence, proactivity, attention to detail, and accountability in decision-making.
15. Qualifications include a Purchasing qualification (CIPS level 4) or equivalent, and a technical degree or HNC/HND.
16. Skills required: effective relationship building, strong communication, Excel and data analysis proficiency, ERP/MRP experience (e.g., JD Edwards, SAP, Oracle), and experience in engineering/production environments with complex supply chains.

Note: Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List. We do not accept unsolicited agency CVs.

Benefits include competitive salary, career development, 25 days leave, early finish Fridays, private healthcare, share plans, pension, and flexible benefits.