Strategic Senior Buyer – Ingredients & Raw Materials

HPRtalent; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

HPRtalent is seeking a Senior Buyer to own a portfolio of raw material and ingredient categories in a UK food manufacturing business, with opportunities to influence how procurement operates as the function grows.

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, you will manage supplier relationships, cost, and supply continuity, lead category strategies, negotiate with UK and international suppliers, and work with technical, NPD, planning, finance and commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Ownership of category strategies in raw materials or ingredients.
• Experience in FMCG/food & drink or related sectors with category ownership experience.
• Comfort with detailed data and drawing conclusions from it without over-analysing.
• Strong negotiator protecting commercial interests in supplier relationships.
• Degree with CIPS Level 3/4 (or willingness to study).
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop category strategies for allocated raw material and ingredient spend.
• Lead negotiations with UK and international suppliers.
• Manage supplier performance through structured reviews.
• Interpret detailed procurement data to inform decisions.
• Monitor commodity and ingredient markets, forecasting price movement and market risk.
• Support due diligence on supplier provenance, ethical sourcing and compliance.
• Contribute to sustainability and ESG agenda through supplier and category decisions.
• Build cross-functional relationships and influence stakeholders.
• Support transformation of procurement to strategic category management.

Skills

Category ownership

Negotiation

Data interpretation

Stakeholder management

Sustainability awareness

Education

Degree educated

CIPS Level 3/4

Job description

HPRtalent is seeking a Senior Buyer to own a portfolio of raw material and ingredient categories in a UK food manufacturing business, with opportunities to influence how procurement operates as the function grows.

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, you will manage supplier relationships, cost, and supply continuity, lead category strategies, negotiate with UK and international suppliers, and work with technical, NPD, planning, finance and commercial teams.