Senior Buyer
Job Description
Senior Buyer - Ingredients & Packaging Procurement
\nFood Manufacturing - Multi-Site - High-Impact FMCG Environment
\nLocation: Newbury, Berkshire
\nSalary: £40-50,000 + benefits + career opportunities + CPD (CIPS)
\nA highly respected and rapidly evolving UK food manufacturing business is seeking an exceptional Buyer to take ownership of strategically critical procurement categories across ingredients and packaging (approximately £20m portfolio) within a fast-paced FMCG manufacturing environment.
\nThis is a significant opportunity for an experienced procurement professional who thrives within commercially complex, operationally demanding, and highly collaborative manufacturing businesses. The role offers genuine visibility, influence, and the opportunity to shape category strategy within a business that is investing heavily in operational capability, customer partnerships, innovation, and long-term growth.
\nThe organisation operates within a dynamic food manufacturing environment supplying both retail and B2B channels, where procurement plays a central role in protecting margin, maintaining continuity of supply, driving innovation, and supporting wider commercial performance.
\nThis is not a transactional buying role.
\nIt requires a commercially astute, strategically minded procurement professional capable of operating across supplier markets, manufacturing operations, finance, planning, technical, NPD, and commercial teams to deliver measurable business impact.
\nThe Opportunity
\nThe Senior Buyer will hold end-to-end responsibility for a portfolio of strategically important procurement categories spanning raw materials, ingredients, commodities, and packaging.
\nThe successful individual will be expected to:
\nDevelop and execute category strategies aligned to wider business objectives
\nManage supplier performance, cost control, and security of supply across critical spend areas
\nOperate confidently within volatile commodity and ingredient markets
\nLead commercial negotiations with both UK and international suppliers
\nIdentify opportunities for value creation beyond simple cost reduction
\nSupport working capital and inventory optimisation initiatives
\nDrive supplier innovation into the wider business
\nPartner closely with operational stakeholders to support service, production, and customer requirements
\nBuild robust procurement governance whilst maintaining pace and agility
\nThe role requires someone capable of balancing strategic thinking with operational execution.
\nYou will need to be equally comfortable negotiating commercial agreements, managing supply risk, influencing senior stakeholders, analysing market movements, supporting manufacturing operations, and challenging suppliers where required.
\nKey Areas of Responsibility
\nStrategic Procurement & Category Management
\nDevelop robust procurement category strategies across allocated areas of spend
\nCreate short, medium, and long-term sourcing plans aligned to business growth and operational requirements
\nContinuously analyse supplier markets, commodity movements, inflationary pressures, and broader market dynamics
\nIdentify opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership whilst protecting quality and service
\nLead strategic sourcing activity including tendering, benchmarking, supplier rationalisation, and contract negotiations
\nDeliver procurement savings, value improvement initiatives, and margin enhancement opportunities
\nBuild contingency planning and mitigation strategies for supply chain risk
\nEnsure continuity of supply across critical operational categories
\nSupport procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives
\nSupplier Management & Commercial Leadership
\nBuild strong strategic relationships with key suppliers and manufacturing partners
\nLead supplier negotiations across pricing, contracts, service levels, rebates, payment terms, and performance expectations
\nConduct supplier performance reviews and drive accountability through structured KPI management
\nIntroduce joint business planning approaches with strategically important suppliers
\nDrive supplier-led innovation into the business across ingredients, packaging, product development, sustainability, and operational efficiency
\nChallenge underperformance and implement corrective action where required
\nCollaborate with suppliers on cost engineering and value optimisation initiatives
\nOperational & Cross-Functional Partnership
\nWork closely with manufacturing, planning, technical, finance, commercial, and NPD functions to support wider business objectives
\nSupport service continuity and minimise operational disruption through proactive supplier and inventory management
\nParticipate in business-critical operational and supply chain meetings
\nContribute to working capital reduction initiatives including stock optimisation and reduction of obsolete materials
\nEnsure procurement decisions balance commercial objectives with operational realities
\nSupport launch activity, customer requirements, and business growth initiatives
\nMarket Intelligence & Risk Management
\nMonitor commodity and ingredient markets continuously
\nForecast pricing movements and supplier market trends
\nAssess geopolitical, agricultural, economic, and supply chain risks impacting procurement categories
\nProvide commercial insight and market intelligence to internal stakeholders
\nSupport budget planning and forecasting activity with accurate procurement analysis
\nDevelop proactive risk mitigation strategies across categories
\nThe Candidate
\nDegree educated and a minimum of CIPS Level 3 or 4 required with the desire to continue those studies
\nThis role requires an experienced FMCG procurement professional with strong food manufacturing or FMCG exposure and a track record operating within commercially and operationally demanding environments.
\nThe successful individual is likely to bring:
\nProgressive procurement and category management experience within FMCG manufacturing
\nExperience purchasing ingredients, raw materials, commodities, and packaging
\nExperience operating within food manufacturing or complex manufacturing supply chains
\nStrong negotiation capability across supplier relationships
\nExcellent commercial acumen and analytical capability
\nExperience managing volatile commodity-driven categories
\nStrong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
\nThe ability to operate with pace, resilience, and accountability
\nA highly collaborative approach combined with the confidence to challenge constructively
\nStrong understanding of procurement governance, supplier management, and category strategy
\nThe ability to balance strategic thinking with operational responsiveness
\nPersonal Attributes
\nThe organisation is seeking an individual who combines commercial credibility with strong relationship-building capability.
\nYou will be:
\nCommercially sharp and analytically minded
\nProactive and solutions focused
\nComfortable operating within fast-moving manufacturing environments
\nHighly organised with strong attention to detail
\nConfident influencing cross-functional stakeholders
\nCapable of managing competing priorities effectively
\nCollaborative whilst able to challenge appropriately
\nDriven to continuously improve processes, performance, and outcomes
\nResilient under pressure and calm within operationally demanding situations
\nWhy This Opportunity?
\nThis is an opportunity to join a highly regarded food manufacturing business at an exciting stage of evolution and growth.
\nThe procurement function is highly valued within the organisation and plays a critical role in supporting operational performance, customer delivery, innovation, and commercial success.
\nThe successful individual will gain:
\nSignificant exposure across the wider business
\nThe opportunity to influence strategic procurement direction
\nOwnership of commercially important categories
\nA collaborative and fast-paced FMCG environment
\nStrong long-term career development potential
\nThe ability to make a visible and measurable impact
\nThis opportunity would suit ambitious procurement professionals seeking a role with genuine breadth, influence, and progression potential within a complex FMCG manufacturing environment.
\nTo apply please email your CV to [email protected] or call 0115 870 0115 for more details
