A leading global manufacturer operating within a complex product and distribution environment is seeking a Buyer/Planner to join their operations team. This is a broad, hands-on role combining procurement, materials planning, inventory control and supplier management to ensure materials are available to support production and customer demand.

You will play a key role in coordinating supply chain activity across internal teams and external suppliers, ensuring material availability while balancing cost, stock levels and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities- Plan, schedule and manage the supply of materials, components and services to support production and customer demand. - Use planning methodologies such as MRP, JIT, Kanban, blanket orders and rescheduling to optimise supply flow. - Ensure raw materials and production supplies are ordered accurately and delivered on time to support operational schedules. - Monitor and manage inventory levels and safety stock, balancing service levels with working capital optimisation. - Maintain and update material, supplier and planning data within ERP / MRP systems. - Investigate and resolve material shortages and supply disruptions, implementing corrective actions where required. - Work cross-functionally with engineering, production, operations and sales teams to ensure alignment with demand and installation schedules. - Analyse supply chain and supplier performance data using Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs and reporting tools). - Manage supplier relationships to resolve issues relating to availability, capacity, quality and cost. - Support logistics, shipping and import processes, ensuring materials are delivered efficiently and in line with project timelines. - Communicate with technical and design teams to ensure accurate product specifications and procurement data. - Participate in supplier negotiations, identifying opportunities for cost savings and commercial improvements. - Monitor supplier delivery performance and produce regular KPI reporting. - Contribute to supply chain improvement initiatives and support new product or project introductions. Candidate Profile- Experience within a supply chain, materials planning, buying or procurement role. - Experience working with MRP / ERP systems. - Strong understanding of inventory management and supply chain coordination. - Comfortable working in a cross-functional operational environment. - Strong communication skills and ability to build effective supplier relationships. - Confident using Excel for data analysis (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs and reporting). - Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. - Experience sourcing internationally (e.g. Far East suppliers) would be advantageous. - Exposure to logistics, shipping or import processes would be beneficial but not essential.