Senior Buyer

Vickerstock are working in partnership with a major heavy manufacturing business on the appointment of a Senior Buyer, a newly created full time permanent position. The Senior Buyer will support the Category Lead in delivering category strategies and supplier management plans and serve as the primary escalation point for category-related issues raised by the Operational Buying team. Duties Build and maintain effective supplier relationships to resolve commercial, supply, quality and delivery issues.

Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs and support corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives. Identify and escalate supply, commercial and supplier risks to the Category Lead. Support the preparation, issue, evaluation and analysis of Requests for Quotation (RFQs). Analyse supplier quotations and make sourcing recommendations based on total cost, quality, lead time, capacity and commercial risk. Support supplier negotiations to secure competitive total cost of ownership and commercially sustainable agreements.

Manage procurement activity for NPI/NPD programmes, ensuring purchasing requirements are delivered in line with project milestones. Coordinate the sourcing and purchasing of prototype and sample parts with suppliers and the Operational Buying team. Work closely with Engineering, NPD and other stakeholders to resolve sourcing and supply issues throughout the development lifecycle. Lead cost-reduction, value-engineering and supplier-improvement initiatives across assigned categories.

Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, specification optimisation, process improvement and commercial savings. Support the Category Lead in achieving annual procurement and cost-reduction targets. Maintain accurate supplier pricing, commercial and purchasing data within the ERP system. Ensure agreed pricing and commercial changes are implemented accurately and on time. Identify and resolve discrepancies in supplier pricing and commercial data. Essential At least three years' experience in a purchasing or procurement role within a manufacturing environment.

Demonstrable experience managing RFQs, evaluating supplier quotations and supporting commercial negotiations. Experience using ERP/MRP systems and maintaining commercial data. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret commercial and supply-chain information effectively. Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. To be considered for this vacancy, please apply to the link provided.

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Skills:

purchasing procurement engineering manufacturing CIPS