Buyer

Job Title: Buyer
Location: North Northamptonshire, Office based.
Salary: Up to £40,000


The Procurement and Supply Chain Division at SF Recruitment are currently recruiting for a Buyer, to deliver a customer-focused service while meeting all Health & Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale targets.

This role manages the procurement of goods and services essential to the organisation's operations, including the implementation of sourcing strategies, category/commodity benchmarking, negotiation of supplier agreements, and ensuring cost-effective, timely, and high-quality procurement.

The ideal candidate will bring a strategic mindset, strong supplier relationship management skills, and a solid understanding of supply-chain dynamics. A proactive approach, commitment to continuous improvement, and a positive problem-solving culture are essential.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

- Manage the procurement process for assigned categories/commodities, materials, and services in alignment with organisational goals.

- Develop and implement sourcing strategies to optimise cost, quality, and delivery performance.

- Evaluate supplier performance and manage supplier relationships to ensure compliance with contracts and service level agreements.

- Lead monthly supplier performance meetings to drive continuous improvement.

- Conduct market analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the supply base.

- Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers to secure best value.

- Lead supplier escalation meetings to resolve gaps in supply.

- Liaise with internal teams as required to ensure customer requirements are met.

- Maintain and update sales and customer records.

- Support engineering change and NPI projects as needed.

- Ensure adherence to procurement policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.

- Support ongoing improvements to procurement systems and processes.

- Mentor and support junior purchasing staff.

- Participate in problem-solving activities to address process deviations.

- Undertake additional reasonable responsibilities as required.

Performance Measures

- Health & Safety: Near-miss reporting

- Quality: Supplier PPM, Supplier Quality Rating

- Cost: Special Freight, Benchmarking Cost Savings, PPV, Contract Savings, Spend Under Management

- Delivery: Supplier OTD, Supplier OTIF, Lead Time Reduction, Delivery Quality

- People/HR: Development/Training Reds

Essential:

- Extensive experience in a material control or procurement role

- Strong understanding of MRP and other material planning systems

- Project management skills, including development and execution of timing plans

- Desirable:

- Experience with Oracle-based management systems (training can be provided)

Key Skills

Strong negotiation skills

Excellent analytical abilities

- Well-organised with strong communication skills

- Effective interpersonal skills, able to engage with stakeholders at all levels

- Self-starter who can identify opportunities and drive strategic initiatives end-to-end

- Personal Qualities & Behaviours

- Takes ownership of issue resolution

- Communicates effectively at all levels internally and externally

- Self-motivated and results-oriented

- Creative thinker with good analytical skills

- Strong team player with sound interpersonal skills


If you wish to progress an application forward to the next stage, please click 'Apply Now'. We are looking to coordinate interviews quickly for this position.