Strategic Buyer
Holt Engineering
Poole, Dorset
Strategic Buyer salary: £41,000 – £50,750
Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.
Strategic Buyer Overview:
- Lead sourcing activity for new products, projects and ongoing production requirements
- Manage supplier selection, commercial negotiation, contracts and cost reduction activity
- Work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations to support successful product launches
- Develop supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost and compliance
- Join a growing engineering manufacturer with international supply chain exposure
This Strategic Buyer role is with an established engineering manufacturer in Poole, supporting project procurement, supplier development and long-term sourcing strategy. Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, the Strategic Buyer will work across new product introduction, supplier selection, contract negotiation, cost reduction and serial production readiness. This Strategic Buyer position suits someone who can balance technical procurement requirements with commercial decision-making and
supplier relationship management.
Day-to-day responsibilities of a Strategic Buyer
- Represent Purchasing within development and industrialisation projects from early concept through to production launch
- Source materials, components and finished products in line with technical, quality, cost and timing requirements
- Request quotations, lead commercial negotiations and put supplier agreements in place
- Work with Engineering, Quality and Programme teams to confirm manufacturability, supply readiness and supplier capability
- Manage project procurement information, master data and handover documentation for operational purchasing teams
- Identify and deliver cost reduction, continuous improvement and total cost of ownership initiatives
- Carry out supplier benchmarking, market research and supply chain analysis
- Scout, assess and develop new suppliers across UK and international markets
- Support supplier audits, qualification activity, capability reviews and performance improvement plans
- Monitor supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost and compliance
- Maintain supplier approval information and support dual-source coverage for key capabilities
- Work across Quality, R&D, Operations and Purchasing to resolve supply chain risks and improve performance
- Experience as a Strategic Buyer, Project Buyer, Commodity Buyer or similar procurement professional
- Strong commercial awareness with confidence negotiating pricing, terms and supply agreements
- Experience supporting NPI, industrialisation or project-based sourcing activity
- Able to assess supplier capability, risk, cost, quality and delivery performance
- Good understanding of procurement processes, supplier selection and sourcing strategy
- Comfortable using ERP systems, Excel and procurement data to support decisions
- Strong supplier and stakeholder management skills across technical and operational teams
- Organised, adaptable and able to manage multiple priorities in a changing supply environment
- CIPS qualification, or equivalent procurement training and experience
- Willingness to travel to suppliers when required, potentially up to 20%
Desirable - Strategic Buyer
- Background in engineering, manufacturing, electromechanical products or technical supply chains
- Experience with supplier quality, supplier audits or part qualification activity
- Understanding of demand forecasting, stock profiling or inventory planning
- Lean or continuous improvement exposure, including 5 Why, DMAIC or waste reduction methods
- Experience managing international suppliers and global sourcing activity
What’s on offer - Strategic Buyer
Strategic Buyer salary: £41,000 – £50,750
A Strategic Buyer role with direct influence across sourcing strategy, supplier capability, NPI and long-term procurement performance.
The chance to work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations rather than operating in a purely transactional buying role.
A varied, commercially focused opportunity with exposure to international suppliers, product launches and continuous improvement activity.
How to apply for the Strategic Buyer position
If you’re interested in this Strategic Buyer role, get in touch to talk through the scope and supplier portfolio.
Call or message Hayden at Holt Engineering on (phone number removed).
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