Technical Buyer

JR United Kingdom; Watford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in manufacturing is seeking a Technical Buyer to enhance their procurement process. In this role, you will collaborate across departments, negotiate with suppliers, and manage purchase orders. Ideal candidates will have 3+ years of experience in procurement within technical environments and possess strong negotiation, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in procurement or purchasing in a technical environment.
• Proactive attitude; strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Highly organized and able to problem-solve complex challenges.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement activities for materials and components.
• Negotiate with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery and cost reductions.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align procurement strategies.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Problem Solving

Organizational Skills

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field

Master’s degree or professional certification (CPP, CPM)

Tools

Procurement software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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This is a great opportunity to lead on procurement for an excellent and growing manufacturing business. The company are market leaders in both the drying and communications industries, their products are bespoke and they work with clients including Heineken, CocaCola and BrewDog.

The MD and head of operations are smart, great to work with, and good work is definitely recognised. The culture is brilliant; people help each other, and no two days are the same. We have placed 5 people at this company, who are all still there and are thriving in their roles!

The Role

Seeking a Technical Buyer with an engineering background to our procurement activity. This is a hands-on role that requires close collaboration with all departments including Sales, Engineering, Assembly, Procurement, and Senior Management. The ideal candidate will be proactive, technically sharp, and passionate about problem solving and helping others.

• Interpret technical drawings and specifications to source and procure the correct materials, components, and assemblies
• Liaise with Engineering and Production teams to confirm technical requirements and resolve supplier queries
• Raise and manage purchase orders in line with BOMs and production plans
• Work closely with suppliers to progress & chase outstanding orders to ensure on-time delivery to minimise disruption to manufacturing
• Build and maintain relationships with a wide supplier base (5 key partners, ~100 others), negotiating pricing, delivery schedules, and contractual terms
• Negotiate with suppliers to reduce costs when appropriate, including bulk orders
• Evaluate suppliers, existing and new for technical capability, quality standards, and reliability
• Ensure that materials comply with company policies and customers’ requirements
• Communicate consistently with internal and external stakeholders, to ensure that suppliers have capacity to deliver to requirements
• Support the Engineering team during product design changes by sourcing new components and alternative suppliers
• Travel to supplier sites within the UK (approx. twice per month) to conduct reviews, audits, or relationship building. Audits will be supported by SHEQ Manager
• Monitor and manage inventory levels and contribute to the stock control to avoid overstocking
• Maintain a network of professional contacts for new opportunities for good deals
• Collaborate cross-functionally across Sales, Engineering, Quality, and Assembly teams to ensure aligned procurement strategy
• Attend conferences to meet potential new suppliers and gain insight from other professionals in the purchasing field
• Prepare and maintain purchasing reports, including open order tracking, supplier performance, and cost analysis
• Establish and monitor KPIs; on-time delivery, cost savings, supplier quality metrics
• Present procurement data and insights during internal operations or engineering meetings to support decision-making
• Line manage a company buyer to deliver excellent work

Skills & Experience

• 3+ years’ experience in procurement or purchasing, ideally in a technical or engineered product environment (e.g. capital equipment, aerospace, defence, or industrial machinery)
• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• Proactive attitude to solve challenges before they occur
• An inquisitive nature to understand how things work, this suits someone who enjoys complex problem solving
• Highly organised
• Proficient in procurement software and Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Master’s degree or professional certification (CPP, CPM) is a plus