Jobs in Fobney Island

Buyer
Location: Tilehurst, Reading
Package: Annual salary up to £36,000 (dependent on experience) plus bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)
Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday
Sector: Packaging distribution
Protecting what matters, together
We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities, and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a collaborative, supportive, and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows.
With over 75 years of history, we offer stability alongside continued growth. Our fast-paced, results-driven environment will challenge and stretch you, but also provide genuine opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to influence our success and share in that achievement.
The Buyer Role
As our Buyer within our local procurement team, you’ll play a key role in supporting the efficient sourcing and supply of products to meet customer demand, sales targets, and profitability objectives.
Working closely with internal teams and suppliers, you’ll ensure stock is sourced competitively, delivered on time, and meets required quality standards. You’ll also contribute to the ongoing development of the supplier base, helping to drive cost efficiencies, improve service levels, and support wider procurement strategy.
This is a varied and commercially focused role, offering exposure to supplier negotiation, stock management, and supply chain optimisation within a fast-paced distribution environment.
Key responsibilities
* Support the management and development of the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) supplier base
* Negotiate pricing, terms, and service levels with suppliers to ensure best value and performance
* Process and manage purchase orders, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement activity
* Work closely with the Category Manager and Procurement Manager to align with wider procurement strategy
* Source alternative suppliers where required to reduce risk and improve competitiveness
* Monitor supplier performance, addressing any quality or service issues promptly
* Support tender processes to secure favourable commercial terms
* Develop awareness of stock holding costs and take action to minimise excess or obsolete stock
* Collaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to optimise stock availability and flow
* Build strong product knowledge across packaging solutions
* Promote effective cross-functional working across departments and RDCs
What you will bring
You’ll ideally have experience within a fast-paced purchasing or procurement environment and be confident working with suppliers, managing priorities, and supporting commercial decision-making.
Essential:
* Genuine interest in developing a career within procurement/purchasing
* Strong communication and negotiation skills
* Ability to prioritise workload within a fast-paced environment
* Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
Desirable:
* Some prior procurement/purchasing related experience
* Recent graduate with a relevant (analytical) degree
* Experience working with multiple product lines and supplier bases
* Familiarity with systems such as ERP/SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or similar
* CIPS qualification (or interest in working towards this)
* Experience of cross-functional working with sales, logistics, or operations
What you will get
We provide a competitive basic salary alongside a range of bonus and incentive schemes. Our flexible benefits package can include:
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus bank holidays
- Additional holiday purchasing scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Free parking at most locations
- Annual volunteering day
- Employee assistance programme
- Extensive training and development opportunities
- Employee discount scheme
- Simply Health/Dental or BUPA options for qualifying roles
- Enhanced HR policies and long service awards
- EE mobile discount scheme
- Candidate referral scheme
Your future with us
At Macfarlane Group, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your own career. We actively support internal progression and provide structured development pathways, combining in-house expertise with external training partners.
You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue professional development through recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), helping you to build a long-term career within procurement and supply chain.
Next Steps/How to Apply
We are working swiftly to find the best applicants and hope to hold local interviews ASAP. Please click ‘apply’ to submit your up-to-date CV. All applications will be acknowledged. If you haven’t heard from us within two weeks, please assume your application was unsuccessful.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.
No recruitment agencies please