Title: Lead Buyer

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 per annum

Working Hours: Monday - Friday, Day Shift

Location: Hitchin, Hertfordshire

VH Talent is excited to partner with an innovative manufacturing company to appoint a driven Lead Buyer. In this role, the Lead Buyer will manage demand planning, maintain system data accuracy, and oversee all ordering and expediting activities to meet business requirements. The successful candidate will also foster strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring that both current performance and future capabilities meet expectations. Working closely with internal stakeholders, they will identify, develop, and execute effective commodity strategies that support the company's long-term goals.

***Please note this is a fully site based role

Interested to learn more? Apply today!

The Lead Buyer Role:

* Coordinate deliveries from suitable supply sources to meet customer demand while aligning with business priorities such as cost, quality, inventory, and delivery targets.

* Monitor MRP-driven demand and respond effectively to fluctuations in requirements, stock levels, or supply constraints

* Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with suppliers to enhance performance and collaboration.

* Address daily operational challenges and contribute to overall supply chain efficiency and performance goals.

* Continuously identify and implement improvements to processes and performance.

* Oversee designated supplier accounts and product categories.

* Handle RFQs, raise purchase orders, and manage expediting activities to ensure products and services are delivered on time and to the required quality standards.

* Ensure all system data is accurate and consistently maintained.

You'll Need:

* Experience within a Senior Procurement or Supply Chain appointment, ideally within a manufacturing, engineering or high-tech sectors.

* Good understanding of principles and practises of procurement in an engineering or manufacturing setting

* A proactive approach with the ability to use own initiative to drive tasks to completion and make decisions

* Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, influence, negotiate and liaise with internal and external personnel

* Highly organised with the ability to prioritise workload and demands

* Experience of working in a Continuous Improvement environment

* CIPS qualified or equivalent

* Project Management experience and has attention to detail

* Proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SAP.

What's in it for you:

* 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays

* Competitive company pension scheme

* Genuine opportunities for training and career development

* Employee engagement initiatives

* Early finish on Fridays

* Permanent position

* Income Protection

* Additional employee benefits and perks

VH Talent - your Permanent and FTC Recruitment Partner