Category Buyer - Ingredients

Job Type: Full-time
Location: Watford - Head office (with regular travel to Leicester and Birmingham branches)
Salary: £40k - £45k per annum

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Category Buyer for our Procurement Department. This role involves managing the procurement of ingredients for a food manufacturing company, ensuring optimal terms and efficient supply chain operations to meet our business needs.

Day-to-day of the role:

Support the Procurement Manager in creating and implementing a Commodity Risk Management (CRM) plan.
Take ownership of a defined area within procurement, managing both raw material and finished goods.
Place purchase orders to suppliers, ensuring 100% On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) delivery to customers.
Resolve accounts payable queries to reduce outstanding invoices.
Review and draft supplier contracts to secure beneficial terms.
Conduct RFI’s and RFQ’s, finalising recommendations for approval before implementation.
Source new suppliers and manage existing supplier relationships through a structured vendor management process (Grow, Maintain, Decline).
Contribute to the annual budget process, identifying risks and opportunities, and implementing strategies to minimise risks and maximise opportunities.
Drive category efficiencies that align with procurement policies and manage internal stakeholder engagement.
Handle claims with suppliers to secure credit notes and recover losses.
Facilitate new supplier setups through the master data management process.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Proven experience as a Category Buyer, preferably in the Food industry.
Strong understanding of procurement processes and supply chain management.
Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to draft and review contracts.
Experience in managing supplier relationships and performance.
Proficient in using procurement tools and systems.
Strong analytical skills to manage budgets and understand price variances.
Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits:

Competitive salary (£40k - £45k per annum)
Opportunities for professional growth and development
Dynamic and supportive work environment, with hybrid working structure

Apply now if interested!