Senior Buyer

We are seeking a commercially focused Senior Buyer for our Redditch based client. You'll take ownership of strategic sourcing and supplier management across key product categories.

This is a pivotal role within the Procurement and Supply Chain team, responsible for driving cost efficiency, ensuring continuity of supply, and maintaining high product quality standards.

You will play a key role in developing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, and leading procurement activity across a diverse portfolio of spend. Working closely with Supply Chain, Operations, and Finance, you will help optimise inventory, support new product development, and contribute to continuous improvement across the end-to-end procurement function.

As a Senior Buyer, you will need to have/be:

• Proven experience in procurement, sourcing, category management, or purchasing roles
• Strong understanding of supply chain processes (logistics, warehousing, demand planning)
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing supplier performance
• Commercial awareness with understanding of cost drivers and total cost of ownership
• Experience working in a matrix organisation with cross-functional stakeholders
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage multiple suppliers/categories
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills
• Excellent analytical and numerical ability with high attention to detail
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to interpret complex data sets
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills under pressure
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders
• Collaborative team player with a proactive, "can-do" approach
• Continuous improvement mindset with focus on efficiency and optimisation

Desirable Experience

• Experience in strategic sourcing methodologies
• Experience in supplier risk management or contract law
• Experience in new product development or category expansion

Education & Qualifications

• A-levels or equivalent vocational qualification (or relevant experience)
• Working towards or achieved CIPS qualification (preferred)
• Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Procurement or related field (desirable)

Details:

• Salary: £38, 000 - £42, 000
• Working Hours: Full time, Monday - Friday
• Location: Redditch (on site)
• Duration: Permanent

Role of Senior Buyer:

• Lead sourcing and procurement of products for resale aligned with business demand and forecasts
• Develop and implement category strategies to optimise cost, quality, and service levels
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure continuity of supply and strong performance
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms to achieve best value and reduce risk
• Work closely with supply chain planning to optimise stock levels using ERP/MRP systems
• Ensure product availability targets are met and supply risks are proactively managed
• Identify and deliver cost-saving and cost-avoidance opportunities
• Monitor market trends, pricing changes, and supply chain risks to support decision-making
• Manage new product development and sourcing projects end-to-end (tenders, supplier selection, samples, negotiations)
• Identify, audit, and onboard new suppliers in line with compliance and sustainability standards
• Conduct benchmarking to ensure competitiveness across product ranges
• Support budgeting and forecasting with accurate procurement data
• Manage supplier performance against SLAs, including OTIF and corrective actions
• Resolve supply issues quickly to minimise operational disruption
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, Inventory, and Customer Services
• Maintain accurate procurement data within ERP/MRP systems
• Produce KPI reporting including savings, lead times, PPV, OTIF, and supplier performance
• Support continuous improvement across procurement processes and systems
• Ensure compliance with company policies, contracts, and regulatory requirements
• Manage supplier risk including financial stability, quality, and ethical standards
• Maintain full audit trail and documentation for all procurement activity

Benefits of working as a Senior Buyer:

• 23 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Christmas shutdown
• Free on-site parking
• Pension scheme