Senior Category Buyer

Are you an experienced Buyer with a background in engineering or manufacturing, looking to make a real impact in the UK rail sector?

We're working with a major player in the rail industry, a company that has made significant investments over the years and is planning further substantial growth in both new and refurbished passenger and freight vehicles. This role is perfect for an ambitious and driven individual who wants to contribute to large-scale, impactful projects within a dynamic and forward-thinking company.

About the Role

As a Senior Category Buyer, you'll play a key role in sourcing a range of materials and services that align with the company's strategic goals and projects. You'll be responsible for ensuring value for money, supplier performance, and quality, all while contributing to the long-term success of the procurement team. This is not just about purchasing; it's about managing relationships, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that procurement strategies are both innovative and aligned with the future of rail.

You will act as the critical link between the engineering/project management teams and the rest of the procurement function, ensuring seamless coordination. This is a hands-on, end-to-end procurement role that will have you managing RFPs, resolving warranty disputes, overseeing Free Issue Materials (FIM), and tracking supplier performance to ensure excellence across all stages of procurement.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Extensive procurement experience, ideally as a Senior Buyer in the railway industry or within engineering and manufacturing environments.
• A strong grasp of key railway sub-systems and the latest digital and electronic systems.
• Commercial acumen with excellent contracting skills, alongside a proven ability to manage the full procurement process from RFP through to supplier performance management.
• Experience with Oracle-based or other e-procurement systems is highly desirable.
• An MCIPS qualification, or working towards one, is preferred.

What's on Offer?

You will be based out of their office in Derby, in the beginning you will be in the office fulltime to get comfortable with your team and the business. After a month you will have the ability to work towards a hybrid approach. The benefits package includes a pension scheme, financial wellbeing support, hybrid working (3 days in, 2 days at home), flexible working, and family-friendly policies enabling you to work around your own commitments.

This is an outstanding opportunity to advance your procurement career while being part of a highly organised and dedicated team, working towards the same mission and advancing your career further within a business that will reward you and cherish the work you put in. If you're a self-starter with a track record of delivering results in procurement within an engineering or manufacturing, we want to hear from you.

If you'd like to know more about this position, just hit the apply button and I'll be in touch. You'll find my number on Linked In (Jordan Leonardi at Distinct Recruitment). If you prefer, you could drop me a connection or message on Linked In and we can pick up on there.

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