Senior Buyer - PackagingLocation: County Durham (due to the nature of the role, this will be 4 days onsite, 1 day working from home)Salary: £50,000Type: Full-time, permHelp shape the future of manufacturing by ensuring the right packaging materials are in place - at the right time, cost, and quality.We're recruiting for a Senior Buyer to take a lead role in the procurement of raw materials and packaging for a well-known manufacturer. Sitting at the heart of the procurement team, you'll take ownership of key direct spend categories, develop strategic sourcing plans, and deliver tangible commercial results.Day In The Life:* Managing the procurement of raw and packaging materials to meet business needs and support wider Procurement KPIs.* Developing purchasing plans and robust category strategies to secure sustainable, cost-effective supply.* Building and managing supplier relationships - negotiating contracts and commercial terms including price lead-times, and MOQs.* Monitoring market trends and providing recommendations on price locks and supplier awards.* Leading cross-functional projects across NPD, Technical, Production, and Finance to support cost optimisation and innovation.* Preparing budgets and ongoing reporting on Purchase Price Variance (PPV) performance.* Issuing contracts, POs and managing purchasing activities through SAP.* Line managing and mentoring junior buyers / purchasing administrators.* Supporting the Head of Procurement on strategy and representing the function internally.What We're Looking For:* Proven experience in direct procurement, ideally within food manufacturing or FMCG.* Strong commercial mindset with a solid grasp of commodity markets and supply risks.* Skilled negotiator, confident handling supplier performance and contract management.* Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.* Able to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day delivery.* Organised, analytical, and comfortable with ERP systems - ideally SAP.* Experience leading or mentoring others would be a bonus.Package & Benefits:* Salary up to £50,000 based on experience* Holiday 25 days plus bank holidays* Hours 8:30am to 5:00pm * Various other benefits such as 4 x death in service, employee assistance programmes, retail discount schemes etc…Why Join Us?This is a high-impact procurement role in a business that values strategic sourcing and cross-functional collaboration. You'll have the chance to lead category strategies, influence at senior levels, and help drive growth through smarter buying. If you're commercially sharp, procurement-savvy, and ready to step up - we'd love to hear from you.
Back to searchSenior Buyer - Packaging
Henderson Brown Procurement & Supply Chain
Posted 3 days ago, valid for 16 days
Durham, Durham DH1 1AU, England
Full Time
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Sonic Summary
- The Senior Buyer - Packaging position is based in County Durham, requiring 4 days onsite and 1 day working from home.
- The role offers a salary of up to £50,000, depending on experience, and is a full-time permanent position.
- Candidates should have proven experience in direct procurement, preferably within food manufacturing or FMCG sectors.
- Key responsibilities include managing supplier relationships, developing purchasing plans, and leading cross-functional projects to optimize costs.
- The ideal applicant will possess strong negotiation skills and have experience in mentoring others, along with a solid understanding of commodity markets.
