Head of Buying

Are you a strategic purchasing leader ready to step up and make an impact in a dynamic, growing business? We're partnering with a successful international company supplying major household names - and they're looking for an experienced Head of Buying to join their senior leadership team at their HQ.

About the Head of Buying role

As Head of Buying, you'll oversee the Purchasing, Stock Control, and Quality Assurance functions. You'll drive cost-saving strategies, strengthen supplier relationships across Europe and Asia, and ensure high standards of compliance, stock management, and process excellence.

This is a hands-on role - you'll negotiate directly with suppliers, approve major purchasing decisions, and lead initiatives to reduce costs and optimise stock without compromising on quality or service.

Regular international travel is part of the role - you'll build and maintain strong partnerships with key suppliers in Europe and Southeast Asia.

• Leading and developing teams across Purchasing, Stock Control, and QA.
• Creating and delivering cost-saving programmes with Category Managers - using product re-engineering, innovation, and supplier development.
• Overseeing supplier selection and direct negotiations.
• Managing purchase order approvals in SAP and other internal systems.
• Monitoring and reducing slow-moving stock, while maintaining agreed service levels.
• Ensuring compliance with waste legislation, customer standards and ethical requirements.
• Driving best practice, process improvements and continuous development across all functions.
• Building long-term relationships with strategic global partners.

• Proven experience in a senior purchasing and stock management role.
• Must have track record of successful strategic global sourcing - ideally with experience purchasing from Southeast Asia.
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced industries such as retail or FMCG is desirable.
• Strong negotiation skills and the confidence to build trusted relationships at senior levels.
• Familiarity with MRP systems and working knowledge of SAP.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A commercial, results-focused mindset with a hands-on leadership style.

This is an opportunity to shape purchasing strategy for an ambitious business working with some of the world's best-known brands. You'll have genuine influence, international scope, and the chance to lead and develop high-performing teams.