Lead Buyer

Role: Lead Buyer
Location: Redditch, Worcestershire
Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per annum

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead Buyer to join a well-established engineering and manufacturing business based in Redditch.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded procurement professional who enjoys building supplier relationships, driving cost reduction initiatives, and supporting technically complex manufacturing projects. Working closely with Quality, Engineering, Sales, and Operations, you'll play a key role in ensuring the business has a robust, competitive, and resilient supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic sourcing and procurement activities across a range of engineering commodities.
Manage RFQs, supplier quotations, tender evaluations, and commercial negotiations.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with UK and global suppliers.
Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities through strategic sourcing, supplier development, and alternative materials.
Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by sourcing components and suppliers for new projects.
Work collaboratively with Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Operations to deliver customer requirements.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-source dependencies, capacity constraints, and raw material market fluctuations.
Negotiate supply agreements and support long-term supplier performance improvements.
Support customer and certification audits, including ISO 9001 and EN 9120 requirements.
Provide market insight and supply chain solutions to support business growth.
Drive supplier sustainability initiatives and continuous improvement across the supply base.About You

Previous experience as a Lead Buyer, Senior Buyer, Category Manager, Commodity Manager, Strategic Buyer, or Procurement Manager within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
A strong understanding of manufacturing processes and engineering supply chains.
Experience managing RFQs, supplier negotiations, and strategic sourcing activities.
Knowledge of global sourcing and supplier relationship management.
The ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
Excellent commercial awareness with strong negotiation and communication skills.
Strong analytical skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Excel and modern AI productivity tools.
The ability to work independently while building strong relationships across multiple departments.Desirable Experience

Aerospace, defence (MOD), automotive, precision engineering, or industrial manufacturing experience.
Knowledge of fasteners, C-Parts, or engineered components.
Experience supporting ISO 9001 and EN 9120 environments.
An Engineering degree or equivalent qualification