Senior Category Buyer

Senior Category Buyer

Salary: Competitive Salary

Contract Type: Full Time

Working Pattern: Permanent

As a Category Buyer/Senior Buyer you will be responsible for developing category strategies to ensure we have a robust and competitive supply chain for the long term. You will also lead supplier relationship and performance management within your commodity areas, manage risk, and support operational escalations to support the business.

• Develop Category Strategies for each area of responsibility, working with the wider business to ensure strategies are implemented in a timely manner.
• Ensure early engagement with engineering and suppliers to source the best products from the beginning of our projects.
• Support the New Product Introduction (NPI) process for your categories – ensuring the product is available and right first time to achieve successful machine launches.
• Manage multiple resource/capacity projects with suppliers to achieve JCB’s 5‑year plan.
• Identify and drive cost‑reduction activities across JCB.
• Act as escalation point for Delivery / Quality / Warranty issues relating to your categories.
• Lead contractual negotiations with suppliers (Long‑Term / Development / Warranty Agreements, etc.).
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships to deliver tangible mutual benefits.
• Identify new technologies with suppliers and engineering to reduce cost or add value to our machines.
• Build strong relationships across JCB and the supply base, being responsible and accountable to make and influence decisions that best serve JCB.
• Support and coach other team members, and depending on experience and team needs, manage up to 2 direct reports.

• Significant procurement experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing and implementing long‑term category strategies.
• Understanding of key cost drivers within a supply base.
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven record of cost reductions.
• Demonstrable experience managing multiple NPI programs from concept to launch.
• Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating cross‑functional teams for on‑time delivery.
• Experience managing high‑level supplier relationships and delivering tangible benefits.
• Ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
• Experience working closely with technical engineers (desirable, not essential).
• Sense of urgency and determination to succeed.
• Capacity to operate in a fast‑paced environment with changing priorities.
• Resilience, adaptability and openness to change.

This is your chance to join a company that values expertise not only in rewards but also in real employee care. You’ll receive a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday, access to our company pension, onsite gym, in‑house doctor, dentist, visiting optician, ULEV car scheme, JCB Rewards Hub discounts, and a Cycle to Work Scheme.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, please email  JCB does not accept speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.

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