Job title: Lead Buyer
Location: Whetstone, Leicestershire
Salary: £50K - £55k per annum (DOE)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm (37.5 hours per week)
Job Type: Permanent
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Lead Buyer to join our Supply Chain team. This is a key role responsible for independently leading and managing the buying function, delivering both operational and strategic value through supplier management, purchasing performance, data analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of and effectively self-manage the day-to-day buying function.
- Manage supplier relationships, performance, escalations and ongoing development.
- Support PO placement, expediting and delivery schedule negotiations.
- Monitor supplier OTD, lead times, spend and other key purchasing KPIs.
- Support RFQs, supplier comparisons, negotiations and tactical cost-saving initiatives.
- Develop and maintain effective supplier strategies to support business requirements.
- Identify and proactively manage supply risks, delivery issues, capacity constraints and supplier performance concerns.
- Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing and performance data.
- Lead the closure of purchasing issues raised in daily Supply Chain meetings.
- Work closely with Planning, Engineering, Production, Quality, Finance and Customer Service to ensure purchasing activity supports wider business objectives.
- Provide leadership, direction and support to Buyers, promoting best-practice purchasing processes.
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve purchasing processes, supplier performance and overall commercial effectiveness.
- Take accountability for purchasing decisions, actions and outcomes, ensuring issues are driven through to resolution.
- Provide clear visibility of purchasing risks, priorities and performance to relevant stakeholders.
- Contribute to longer-term supply chain and sourcing strategies, balancing cost, quality, delivery and supply risk.
Experience and Attributes
- Ideally 10+ years’ experience in purchasing, procurement, sourcing or buying positions.
- Proven experience of independently managing and running a purchasing function or significant area of responsibility.
- Strong supplier relationship management and negotiation skills.
- Demonstrable commercial awareness and the ability to identify and deliver cost, efficiency and performance improvements.
- Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to consider the wider business impact of purchasing decisions.
- Proven leadership capability, including supporting, developing and influencing Buyers and wider cross-functional teams.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems and purchasing data.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decisions.
- Excellent planning, organisation and prioritisation skills.
- A high level of ownership, accountability and personal responsibility for delivering results.
- Ability to identify issues proactively and take decisive action without requiring constant direction.
- Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of the organisation.
- Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively as part of a wider team.
- A calm, professional and solutions-focused approach when managing pressure, competing priorities and supplier escalations.
- An understanding of contracts, Terms & Conditions and compliance.
- A continuous improvement mindset, with a proven ability to make a measurable impact on purchasing and supplier performance.
If you think you have the necessary skills for this vacancy - please attach your CV to the application.
Applications without an up-to-date CV will be rejected automatically.
You will be notified via your Indeed account progress of this application so please check back regularly.
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REF:INDRES
Pay: £50,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- What experience do you have using ERP/MRP systems for purchasing and supply chain activities? If yes, please say which systems.
- What experience do you have managing supplier delivery issues, expediting or escalations?
- Do you feel confident with negotiating with suppliers?
Experience:
- Purchasing: 10 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
