The Buyer is to manage day-to-day purchasing and stock planning during the incumbent’s maternity leave, ensuring products are bought competitively, purchase orders are placed in time, and suitable stock is available to support reliable customer service. The role has a strong commercial focus, working closely with Sales and Customer Service to support opportunities, produce accurate RFQ and tender costings, and identify margin improvement opportunities across existing customer accounts.
Key responsibilities of the Buyer:
* Place purchase orders promptly to meet sales order promise dates and agreed stock levels. Review shortages and exceptions daily.
* Set and review stock parameters. Forecast usage against sales history, seasonality, minimum order quantities, supplier lead times and known customer demand.
* Maintain accurate supplier, product, price, quantity-break and carriage information. Negotiate terms and review supplier performance.
* Progress outstanding purchase orders, resolve delays and give Customer Service clear, timely updates.
* Source new products, alternatives and contingency supply from UK and overseas suppliers. Sales opportunities, RFQs and tenders
* Work closely with Sales to prepare accurate costings for quotations, RFQs and tenders, including freight, duty, minimum order quantities, lead times and other buying costs.
* Analyse sales and purchasing data for existing customer accounts to identify margin leakage, cost reductions, alternative products, improved buying terms and pricing actions. People management Manage one Assistant Buyer, setting priorities, allocating work, coaching performance and maintaining effective cover.
* Maintain product codes, buying prices and stock settings. Use Excel and Microsoft Copilot AI tools appropriately for stock forecasting and analysis of sales and purchasing trends. Finance liaison Work with Accounts on supplier set-up, invoice queries, annual rebates, discounts and cash-flow planning for bulk orders and imports.
* Coordinate supplier returns and pursue timely credits or replacements. Handover and continuity Complete a structured 6 to 8-week handover before the incumbent’s planned departure in mid-December 2026.
Essential experience required of the Buyer:
* Buying or purchasing experience in a product-based business, ideally involving stockholding, imported goods and varied supplier lead times.
* Experience of purchase order management, supplier progression, sourcing and commercial negotiation.
* Confidence preparing product costings and understanding landed cost and gross margin.
* Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and meeting customer-sensitive deadlines.
* Clear, practical communication and a collaborative approach.
* Experience supervising, coaching or coordinating another team member.
Desirable experience of the Buyer:
* Experience of overseas buying and managing imports, including supplier lead times, freight, duty and associated documentation.
* Strong analytical skills, turning sales, purchasing and stock data into practical actions and commercial recommendations.
* Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, filters, formulae and trend analysis.
* Practical use of Microsoft Copilot AI tools to support stock forecasting and analysis of sales and purchasing trends.
* Experience using ERP, stock-control or purchasing systems and maintaining accurate master data.
Employment details:
* Fixed-term maternity cover.
* Target start: mid to late October 2026.
* 6 to 8 weeks shadowing the incumbent before her planned departure in mid-December 2026.
* Salary: £33,000 per annum plus bonus. OTE: £35,000 per annum.
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Salary description
£33000.00 - £35000.00 per year