Senior Packaging Buyer

Henderson Brown Recruitment; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Buyer - Packaging to take full ownership of a high-value packaging category. This role involves managing supplier relationships, developing category strategy, and overseeing purchasing activities to ensure supply continuity. Ideal candidates should have proven experience in FMCG or manufacturing procurement, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work strategically. This is a full-time, permanent position based in Canterbury, offering a salary of £40,000 - £44,589.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Ability to operate both strategically and operationally in procurement.
• Comfortable working with performance targets and commercial KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the packaging category strategy.
• Lead supplier negotiations and supplier frameworks.
• Manage day-to-day buying and stock control.

Skills

Strong procurement fundamentals

Analytical capability

Confident influencing skills

Self-starting mindset

Job description

Senior Buyer - Packaging

Location: Kent, Canterbury / site based role Monday to Friday

Salary: £40,000 - £44,589

Type: Full-time, permanent

Ready to take full ownership of a high-value packaging category in a fast-paced FMCG environment?

About the Role

We're recruiting a Senior Buyer - Packaging to take full strategic and operational ownership of a core packaging category, with primary responsibility for a defined packaging category and an annual spend of approximately £4.3m.

This is a hands-on, end-to-end buying role where you'll develop and deliver category strategy, manage supplier relationships, lead tenders, and control day-to-day purchasing activity. You'll play a key role in supporting growth initiatives across the category over the next 12 months.

While there are no direct line management responsibilities, you'll act as a senior figure within the team, providing guidance and informal mentoring to Administrators and Junior Buyers.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the packaging category strategy, balancing cost, availability, risk, and performance.
• Lead supplier negotiations, commercial agreements, and preferred supplier frameworks.
• Run tenders and sourcing initiatives to drive value and resilience.
• Manage market movements, cost pressures, and pricing reviews.
• Oversee day-to-day buying, MRP-driven ordering, and stock control to ensure continuity of supply.
• Maintain supplier scorecards, performance reviews, and continuous improvement plans.
• Support implementation across the category.
• Provide insight-led reporting on spend, performance, and savings.

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Strong procurement fundamentals with the ability to operate both strategically and operationally.
• Packaging experience is desirable but not essential - learning agility is key.
• Confident working with performance targets and commercial KPIs.
• Proactive, self-starting mindset with strong analytical capability.
• Comfortable influencing without formal line management responsibility.

Why Apply?

This is a role with genuine ownership, visibility, and impact. You'll manage a critical category, work closely with senior stakeholders, and play a key role in shaping procurement performance in a growing, performance-driven business.

Interested?

If you're a commercially driven buyer ready to step into a senior, high-ownership packaging role, apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.