Manufacturing Buyer
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00am–4:45pm, Friday 8:00am–1:00pm
Location: Plymouth
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
About the Role
Join my client, an advanced fabrication facility delivering high-end projects from initial CAD design through to full manufacturing. You’ll be part of a specialist team producing premium workshop solutions for leading luxury and sports car manufacturers, motorbike brands, and motorsport teams.
As the Manufacturing Buyer, you will source, purchase, and manage all materials, components, and services required to support production. You’ll play a key role in ensuring continuity of supply, cost control, quality compliance, and on-time delivery, while maintaining strong supplier relationships and keeping production running smoothly.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement & Sourcing
*Source raw materials, components, and services in line with production requirements.
*Prepare, place, and manage purchase orders.
*Identify and assess new suppliers to ensure competitiveness and resilience.
*Procure finished products to support manufactured goods.
Supplier Management
*Negotiate pricing, terms, contracts and lead times.
*Monitor supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and service.
*Resolve supplier issues such as late deliveries, shortages, or quality concerns.
Inventory & Planning
*Collaborate with production and planning teams to forecast material needs.
*Maintain optimal stock levels to avoid shortages or excess inventory.
*Support material planning using the BC ERP system.
Cost Control & Continuous Improvement
*Analyse spend and identify savings opportunities.
*Lead and support cost-reduction initiatives.
Compliance & Documentation
*Ensure all purchasing activities comply with company policies and procedures.
*Create and maintain purchasing documentation and processes.
*Maintain accurate purchasing records.
*Support creation and updates to costed BOMs.
General Duties
*Review haulage arrangements to improve service and pricing; support transport coordination as needed.
*Work closely with all site functions and provide general office support.
*Promote and adhere to company Health & Safety requirements.
*Ensure compliance with quality standards: verification checks, dimensional inspection sheets, scrap analysis, and scrap-reduction initiatives.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
*CIPS qualification (or equivalent).
*Experience in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement environments.
*Understanding of international sourcing and logistics.
Experience
*2–5 years’ purchasing or buying experience within manufacturing.
*Experience using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, BC).
*Good understanding of manufacturing processes and materials.
Skills & Competencies
*Self-driven with the ability to work independently.
*Strong negotiation and supplier-management skills.
*Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
*Effective communicator with strong stakeholder-management skills.
*High attention to detail and strong organisational ability.
*Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.