Senior Buyer

Location: West Sussex

Senior Buyer – Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence
Full‑time
· Permanent ·

Lead Procurement for a High‑Precision Engineering Group

Step into a senior purchasing role at a specialist UK engineering and manufacturing organisation for customers worldwide.

This is an opportunity to join a stable, long‑established engineering group with modern facilities, a strong reputation for quality, and a diverse portfolio of machinery and component manufacturing. You’ll be the senior figure driving procurement strategy across multiple engineering divisions—each with its own technical challenges and supply chain demands.

Why This Role Stands Out

You’ll work across four engineering businesses, each manufacturing different types of machinery, stainless‑steel ware, and machined components.

You’ll influence supplier strategy, cost optimisation, and material availability for complex assemblies and precision‑engineered parts.

You’ll join a company with global reach, supplying both small independents and major multinationals.

You’ll be part of a tight‑knit, family‑owned group with a reputation for craftsmanship, innovation, and reliability.

What You’ll Own

Strategic Procurement for engineered components, machined parts, fabricated assemblies, and specialist materials.

Supplier Development — negotiate, evaluate, and manage suppliers to ensure quality, cost, and delivery performance.

Technical Purchasing — interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and specifications to source the right components first time.

Cost‑Saving Initiatives — drive value‑engineering, alternative sourcing, and supplier consolidation.

Inventory & Lead‑Time Control — ensure materials availability for production schedules across multiple manufacturing sites.

Quality & Compliance — uphold ISO standards and ensure suppliers meet engineering and regulatory requirements.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration — work closely with engineering, production, machining, and operations teams.

Requirements
You’ll Fit This Role If You Have…

Senior‑level experience in engineering or manufacturing procurement.

Strong knowledge of machining, fabrication, stainless‑steel components, and mechanical assemblies.

Confidence reading technical drawings and understanding engineering specifications.

A track record of supplier negotiation, cost reduction, and supply chain optimisation.

ERP/MRP experience and a structured approach to purchasing.

Desirable Extras

Experience in packaging machinery, automation, laboratory equipment, or precision machining.

Exposure to international supply chains and global sourcing.

Familiarity with ISO‑certified engineering environments.

Benefits You’ll Join

A respected UK engineering group with..

Modern, purpose‑built facilities

A collaborative culture

Long‑term stability

A varied and technically rich product range

A global customer base

Salary of Up To £55,000