Buyer

Buyer
Location: Chester
Salary: £34,000 – £36,000 per annum, depending on experience
Hours: 35 hours per week
Employment Type: Permanent, Staff Position

About the RoleWe are recruiting on behalf of our client, an established manufacturing business in Chester, who are looking to appoint an experienced Buyer to join their team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive and commercially minded procurement professional to take ownership of the purchasing process and play a key role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the manufacturing operation.

Working closely with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain teams, you will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing materials, consumables and services, while ensuring the business maintains continuity of supply, competitive pricing and high supplier performance.

You’ll have the opportunity to build strong supplier relationships, identify cost-saving opportunities and contribute to continuous improvement across the wider supply chain.

Key Responsibilities
Manage the end-to-end procurement of production materials, consumables and non-production items.

Ensure materials are ordered and delivered in line with production schedules and business requirements.

Source new suppliers and obtain competitive quotations, assessing quality, cost, capability and lead times.

Build and maintain strong, effective relationships with suppliers.

Monitor supplier performance against key measures including quality, cost and delivery.

Work with Quality, Engineering and Operations teams to resolve supplier and supply chain issues.

Manage purchase orders, supplier expediting, returns, invoice queries and inventory-related activities.

Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information across ERP/MRP systems.

Support supplier approvals, documentation and corrective actions where required.

Identify and implement cost reduction and process improvement opportunities.

Help minimise supply chain disruption and manage delivery escalations effectively.

Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure procurement activity supports production and business demand.

Support supplier reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Occasionally visit supplier sites and other business locations as required.

About YouWe’re looking for someone who is organised, commercially aware and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You’ll ideally have:

Previous experience working as a Buyer, Procurement Specialist or within Supply Chain, preferably in a manufacturing environment.

A good understanding of purchasing, procurement and supplier management.

Experience working with ERP/MRP systems.

Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

Experience monitoring and improving supplier performance.

The ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications.

A commercially focused approach, with an understanding of cost, value and supply risk.

The ability to manage multiple priorities and work to production deadlines.

A proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.

Flexibility to travel occasionally to supplier sites when required.

Qualifications
CIPS Level 3 or 4 (or equivalent procurement experience) would be advantageous.

Why Apply?This is a fantastic opportunity to join a successful manufacturing business where procurement plays an important role in operational performance.

You’ll be given the opportunity to take ownership of your purchasing responsibilities, develop supplier relationships, contribute to cost-saving initiatives and make a genuine impact on the wider supply chain.

Salary: £34,000 – £36,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Location: Chester.

Hours: 35 hours per week