Lead Buyer

Job Description

Lead Buyer

Portsmouth | £47,000–£55,000 + Generous Holiday + Excellent Benefits Package + On-Site Canteen | Full-Time, Monday–Friday 8am–4pm | Permanent

Are you an experienced Senior Buyer with strong supplier management skills and the confidence to lead procurement activity through a period of change and continuous improvement? A leading specialist manufacturing business in Havant is looking for a Senior Buyer to take ownership of operational procurement across the site. You will manage sourcing, supplier performance, material availability and commercial negotiations while playing a key role in upcoming continuous improvement projects. This Senior Buyer role has significant exposure across the business, working with colleagues at all levels on site as well as wider Group stakeholders. Strong communication, influencing and relationship-building skills will therefore be essential.

Job Responsibilities
- Manage sourcing and procurement activities in line with business and category strategies.
- Lead supplier negotiations covering pricing, contracts and commercial terms.
- Monitor supplier delivery, quality and performance and implement recovery plans where required.
- Support continuous improvement and change projects from a procurement perspective.
- Maintain accurate ERP purchasing parameters including lead times, MOQ and safety stock.
- Manage material shortages and identify alternative sourcing solutions.
- Work closely with Planning, Production, Warehouse, Finance and Group Procurement.
- Analyse inventory, supplier performance and purchasing data to identify improvements.

Skills & Knowledge Required
- Demonstrate 5+ years’ procurement experience at Buyer or Senior Buyer level.
- Have experience working successfully within changing or evolving environments.
- Possess strong supplier management and commercial negotiation skills.
- Demonstrate excellent communication and stakeholder management at all levels.
- Have practical experience using MRP/ERP purchasing systems.
- Use Excel confidently for analysis, reporting and decision-making.
- Manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Hold, or be working towards, a CIPS qualification – desirable.
- Experience supporting continuous improvement, procurement transformation or process improvement projects would be particularly valuable.
- Experience within manufacturing, biopharma or life sciences would be advantageous