Strategic Buyer - Supplier Compliance

Cubed Resourcing; Bradford; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advanced manufacturing organisation in Bradford is seeking a Senior Strategic Buyer to enhance their supply chain. In this pivotal role, you'll drive supplier quality, manage risks, and ensure compliance in a regulated environment. Candidates should have a strong procurement background, excellent negotiation skills, and experience in precision engineering. A degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business is essential. The position offers a competitive salary and numerous benefits including annual leave and health insurance.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Bupa health insurance

Enhanced pension

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic supplier management and category management.
• Strong understanding of contract law, compliance frameworks, and supplier governance.
• Experience within precision, engineering or manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier audits and performance monitoring.
• Develop risk-based sourcing strategies and monitor supplier KPIs.
• Manage tendering processes and supplier relationships.

Skills

Strategic supplier management

Negotiation skills

Problem-solving

Supplier compliance

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business

Tools

ERP/MRP systems (SAP or Oracle)

Job description

Cubed Talent are proud to be recruiting a Senior Strategic Buyer for a leading, advanced manufacturing organisation specialising in complex, precision-engineered machine tools. This is a pivotal role focused on building a resilient supply chain, ensuring exceptional supplier quality, and maintaining strict compliance within a regulated, high-accuracy engineering environment.

If you thrive in strategic procurement, enjoy assessing and managing supplier risk, and excel in environments where quality is non-negotiable—you’ll feel right at home.

The Opportunity

As Senior Strategic Buyer, you will take ownership of sourcing high-value components and specialist engineered services, using your technical knowledge and commercial expertise to secure reliable, compliant, future-proof supply arrangements.

You’ll be the voice of supplier quality and risk management, driving standards, challenging suppliers, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and safeguarding operations through robust, well-structured contracts.

This role is central to maintaining continuity of supply within a precision manufacturing setting, ensuring every part meets the exacting standards required.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Compliance & Risk – Core Focus

• Lead supplier audits, evaluations, and ongoing performance monitoring to ensure adherence to ISO / AS9100 and other regulatory or customer standards.
• Ensure all supplier contracts meet legal, regulatory and company compliance requirements.
• Develop and implement risk-based sourcing strategies, identifying supply chain vulnerabilities and delivering clear mitigation plans.
• Monitor supplier KPIs and drive continuous improvement around quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Escalate quality concerns with a structured, proactive approach, safeguarding continuity and reducing operational disruption.

Strategic Procurement

• Create and implement category strategies for key materials, components, and services.
• Conduct detailed market research to identify new supply opportunities and strengthen the supplier base.
• Manage tendering processes, supplier selection and contract award decisions.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers through structured SRM and regular review meetings.
• Work closely with Engineering, Production, Quality and Finance to align procurement decisions with technical specifications and business goals.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure procurement activities reflect best value by balancing cost, quality and delivery.
• Support cross-functional collaboration to raise the profile of procurement across the organisation.
• Promote ethical business behaviour and uphold the highest standards of integrity.
• Provide cover for the Sourcing Manager and other senior team members when required.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in strategic supplier management and category management.
• Strong understanding of contract law, compliance frameworks, and supplier governance.
• Technical appreciation, including ability to interpret engineering drawings and quality standards.
• Experience within precision, engineering or manufacturing environments (ISO, AS9100, or similar).
• Strong negotiation, influencing and communication skills at all business levels.
• Resilient, organised and solution-focused, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business (CIPS or equivalent preferred).
• Comfortable using ERP / MRP systems such as SAP or Oracle.

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to influence the quality and resilience of a supply chain at the heart of advanced engineering. You’ll enjoy an environment that values technical expertise, encourages strategic thinking and trusts you to make significant, meaningful decisions.

Benefits

Alongside a competitive salary of circa £50k and an annual bonus of up to 15% of salary, you’ll benefit from :

• 33 days annual leave
• Flexible working hours
• Bupa health insurance & health cash plan
• Enhanced pension
• Life assurance

Ready to strengthen the future of precision manufacturing?

Apply now via Cubed Talent or contact our Jess for a confidential conversation on (phone number removed)