Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer
Salary: Attractive salary plus benefits
Location: Cheshire

Our client is a successful, privately owned engineering business who are currently looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to lead the strategic procurement and management of key commodities, ensuring a resilient and cost-effective supply chain that meets business needs.

Based at their offices in Cheshire, this role plays a pivotal part in sourcing, evaluating, and negotiating with suppliers to optimise costs, maintain quality standards, and drive operational efficiency. With a focus on supply chain resilience, cost reduction, and supplier relationship management, the Senior Buyer contributes to the long-term procurement strategy and inventory optimisation.

Responsibilities include:

1. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders to balance supply and demand, enhance ERP data integrity, and ensure alignment with organisational objectives
2. Acting as a key support to the Procurement Manager by providing informal leadership and expertise to strengthen the procurement function and deliver value to the business
3. Managing the defined commodity supply chain by sourcing, reviewing, and purchasing commodities
4. Managing the supply chain on time delivery performance in line with departmental KPIs
5. Updating inventory strategies where needed to increase sales, maximise cash flow and manage stock quantities
6. Evaluating, selecting, and recommending new vendors
7. Ensuring supply chain resilience
8. Negotiating favourable prices and terms to maximise best commodity sourcing practices
9. Building and maintaining good relationships with commodity suppliers and all supply chain stakeholders
10. Developing and maintaining ERP systems and data accuracy
11. Studying market trends and identifying any risks when sourcing key commodities to mitigate any vendor and market risks
12. Resolving vendor disputes and any commodity-related issues
13. Analysing and minimising the total cost of acquisition on procured parts
14. Developing new supply chains both domestically and overseas e.g. China, India

Candidate requirements:

1. HNC or degree educated in a technical subject
2. Experience of working with an integrated ERP system such as Syteline or SAP
3. At least four years' experience in supply chain or commodity management
4. CIPS qualification preferred
5. Solid knowledge of financial markets that influence commodity prices
6. Able to operate with a high degree of autonomy
7. A strategic mindset to assess market trends, mitigate risks, and identify new sourcing opportunities, both domestically and internationally
8. Engineering, technical background is advantageous
9. Good negotiation skills and ability to work and communicate with vendors and stakeholders
10. Business acumen and excellent knowledge of commodity markets
11. Strong analytical and organisational skills
12. Knowledge of metals and their technical standards / specifications
13. Strong leadership skills and the ability to work well with peers and other colleagues from various departments
14. Financial literacy – Cost of materials, acquisition cost and total cost philosophies

If this sounds of interest please send your CV in Word format, quoting reference 32836/LT/ED detailing your current remuneration package and availability. If your application is of interest, one of our consultants will be in touch.
We regret that due to the high volume of responses, only those candidates that are progressing to the next stage will be contacted.