Services Buyer

Services Buyer – Darley Dale – c.50,000

Chase & Holland are proud to be working with a highly successful and growing manufacturing business based in the Darley Dale area who are currently seeking an experienced Services Buyer to join their established procurement team on a permanent basis.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to take ownership of indirect procurement activity across the site, managing a significant spend portfolio and identifying opportunities to improve cost, efficiency and supplier performance.

The successful candidate will ideally bring previous indirect procurement experience, with a strong background in services procurement and experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment. This is a highly autonomous role where you will become the key procurement contact for the site, working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Finance and senior stakeholders to identify opportunities, challenge existing processes and deliver commercial improvements.

Benefits:

• £50,000 salary
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays
• Early finish every Friday at 13:30
• 7% matched pension
• Salary sacrifice scheme following successful completion of probation
• Free electric vehicle charging on site
• Predominantly site-based position with up to 2 days working from home per month
• Excellent opportunity for career development within a growing organisation

Services Buyer Responsibilities:

• Managing the sourcing and procurement of approximately £5 million of indirect/site spend, covering services, consumables and capital expenditure
• Identifying and delivering opportunities for spend reduction, cost avoidance, working capital and productivity improvements
• Managing procurement activity across areas including leasing, soft services, oils, MRO spares, carbide inserts/tooling, FLTs, vehicles and capital investment
• Sourcing goods and services, obtaining competitive quotations and negotiating with suppliers to achieve the best commercial outcomes
• Developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships, ensuring site requirements around cost, quality, service and performance are consistently met
• Implementing and managing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and monitoring supplier performance
• Working closely with Operations, Maintenance, Finance and other internal departments to understand requirements and identify opportunities for improvement
• Reviewing existing supplier arrangements and proactively identifying opportunities to improve cost, efficiency and service
• Supporting and leading wider group procurement projects, including formal RFP processes and agreed category reviews
• Attending quarterly group procurement reviews and leading on specific procurement projects, presenting key information and recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Maintaining supplier contracts and relevant procurement information within the management system
• Supporting the resolution of supplier invoice disputes and discrepancies
• Using reporting tools and Microsoft Excel to analyse, manipulate and present procurement data and key performance metrics
• Managing one direct report within the purchasing function
• Supporting the effectiveness of the site's third-party managed Stores operation
• Raising requisitions for relevant areas of spend
• Carrying out any other duties as reasonably required by management

Required Skills & Experience:

• Previous experience within an indirect procurement, buying or purchasing role
• Strong experience within services procurement is highly desirable
• Previous experience within a manufacturing, engineering or similar operational environment would be advantageous
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with the ability to identify and deliver genuine cost and efficiency improvements
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including senior and director level
• A proactive and self‑motivated approach, with the ability to work autonomously and identify opportunities without requiring close supervision
• Ability to challenge existing processes and supplier arrangements in a constructive and commercially focused manner
• Strong understanding of total cost of ownership and the ability to identify savings through efficiency, productivity and improved supplier performance rather than simply reducing purchase price
• Experience using ERP or procurement systems
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with data and reporting tools
• Knowledge of MRO, Stores management and/or basic MRP controls would be advantageous
• Ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines and maintain a high level of attention to detail
• Degree‑level education would be desirable
• MCIPS qualified or working towards MCIPS would be advantageous
• Positive, tenacious and commercially focused approach
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external suppliers

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