Senior Buyer

Job Description:

SF Recruitment are working with a fledgling manufacturing business in Tamworth to recruit a Senior Buyer. The Senior Buyer will play a critical role in driving the organisation’s strategic purchasing agenda, combining hands-on procurement delivery with a strong focus on cost optimisation, supplier rationalisation, and commodity strategy.

The role will act as the lead purchasing representative in the ongoing optimisation of the recently implemented MRP system, ensuring it operates effectively and supports business requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute commodity and category strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Identify, deliver, and track cost-saving initiatives across direct and indirect spend.
• Lead supplier rationalisation activity to improve cost, performance, and supply resilience.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing structures, and agreements with key suppliers.
• Analyse spend data to identify risks, opportunities, and efficiency improvements.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with strategic and critical suppliers.
• Lead supplier performance management, including OTD/OTIF, quality, and service levels.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments and contribute to continuity-of-supply planning.
• Support onboarding and governance of new suppliers in line with internal processes.
• Act as the purchasing lead in the ongoing development and optimisation of the newly implemented MRP system.
• Work closely with operations, planning, and IT to:

• Correct system issues
• Improve data accuracy (item master, lead times, MOQ, safety stock)
• Ensure the system supports effective purchasing and material flow
• Support the Buyer in operational purchasing requirements where necessary
• Partner with Operations, Planning, Engineering, and Finance to support business

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a Senior Buyer / Strategic Buyer role within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable success delivering cost reduction, supplier rationalisation, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen with advanced negotiation skills.
• Experience working with MRP systems; hands-on involvement in implementation or optimisation highly desirable.
• SAP experience advantageous.
• Ability to operate independently, influencing stakeholders without formal authority.
• Strong analytical capability with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Results-driven, pragmatic, and improvement-focused mindset.