Buyer

Buyer + £36-37k + 25 days holiday (plus BH) + Early Finish on Friday + Annual Bonus + Private medical + Career Progression

The Company:

We are working with a market leader who are experiencing significant growth. They have a clear path for future company growth and as such are looking to add to their Supply Chain team due to an internal promotion.

You will be joining a team of experienced industry professionals with a chance to progress your career within a growing business with an excellent brand reputation.

Buyer Overview:

The Buyer role is responsible for managing and developing a portfolio of suppliers to ensure the supply of products and services meets the required standards for Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD). The position supports both direct and indirect procurement requirements in line with business needs and company procedures, while also managing material planning activities to ensure continuity of supply and production stability.

Responsibilities and duties for the Buyer role:

• Raise and process purchase orders for rail components, parts, and services to support the business projects and operational requirements.
• Ensure requisitioned items are cost-effective; obtain and evaluate alternative quotations where applicable.
• Process and release daily purchase orders to suppliers for direct materials and indirect materials to support operational needs.
• Support the Approved Supplier List in accordance with relevant rail industry regulations and company compliance requirements, ensuring supplier selection and retention align with QMS requirements.
• Maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to meet business objectives.
• Operate in accordance with company quality procedures.
• Maintain required stock levels for direct materials, applying Economic Order Quantities (EOQs) where appropriate.
• Responsible for material planning by reviewing MRP outputs, supplier lead times, and production priorities.
• Lead or support cost-reduction and value engineering initiatives within the supply chain.
• Expedite the delivery of direct and indirect materials to ensure timely availability; ensure supplier delivery commitments are accurately reflected in the MRP system.
• Actively manage material availability risks, identifying potential shortages and implementing mitigation actions.
• Monitor and manage supplier performance using QCD metrics.
• Utilize the ERP system to manage purchasing activities, support planning visibility and demand coverage.
• Investigate and resolve invoice queries in coordination with the Finance team. Support tendering processes and the implementation of new projects or initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across all departments, including Warehouse, Materials, Commercial, Planning, Production, Finance, and Supply Chain, to achieve seamless cross-functional coordination and meet business objectives.
• Participate in supplier meetings and visits as required. Attend internal meetings as necessary.
• Coach and train other members of the team or facilitate team visits as needed.
• Undertake other tasks or responsibilities as reasonably requested by the Head of Supply Chain.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 3 years relevant procurement experience in a regulated or quality driven environment would be advantageous, with a good knowledge of products and suppliers.
• NVQ Level 2/3, BTEC, or similar qualification in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. MCIPS advantageous.
• Previous experience in a supply chain, procurement, or logistics support role (rail, engineering, or manufacturing industry experience desirable).
• Experience working with MRP systems, planning tools, or production schedules desirable.

Key Skills:

• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel (pivot tables, data analysis), Word, and Outlook.
• Understanding of supply chain principles in a regulated or quality-driven environment.
• Organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. Good commercial acumen.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills to support stock control, demand fluctuations, and supplier capacity alignment.
• Excellent communication skills for dealing with suppliers and internal teams. High attention to detail and accuracy, especially in data and document handling.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and enthusiastic. Solutions-focused with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Adaptable to working in a dynamic, high pressure rail environment.
• Able to balance tactical purchasing activity with forward-looking material planning and risk management.