Buyer

Location: Hatton, Derbyshire

Salary: Competitive + Benefits

The Opportunity

We’re recruiting on behalf of a rapidly growing business looking to appoint an experienced Buyer to join their Supply Chain team. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded purchasing professional who enjoys building strong supplier relationships, negotiating effectively, and playing a key role in delivering an efficient, customer-focused supply chain.

Reporting to the Supply Chain Director, you’ll work closely with Supply & Demand Planning, Product Development, Quality Control, and Design teams to ensure product availability, optimise supplier performance, and support the development of new products.

If you’re proactive, analytical and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier & Purchasing Management

• Support the delivery of the company’s supply strategy to align with wider business objectives.
• Work collaboratively with Supply & Demand Planning to ensure effective stock management.
• Monitor inventory levels, demand forecasts and supplier lead times to achieve high product availability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse international supplier base.
• Identify opportunities to expand the supplier network and reduce supply chain risk.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities (MOQs) and commercial terms.
• Deliver agreed departmental KPIs.
• Lead product and supply simplification projects to improve efficiency.
• Negotiate to achieve target product margins through pricing and sourcing strategies.
• Manage supplier performance through regular reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify single-source risks and proactively establish alternative supply routes where required.

Quality & Compliance

• Develop a strong understanding of product safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and manage product samples.
• Work closely with the Quality Control team to resolve product quality issues and drive improvements.
• Participate in supplier evaluations and audits to ensure quality standards are consistently met.

Product Development

• Collaborate with Product Development and Design teams on new product launches.
• Manage sample delivery deadlines for photography, marketing and catalogue production.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the product range to support future innovation.
• Carry out competitor and market analysis to identify new product opportunities and emerging trends.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 3 years’ purchasing or buying experience within a fast-paced commercial environment.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence and build relationships across multiple departments and with external suppliers.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload and perform well under pressure.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach.
• Full UK driving licence.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) as a minimum qualification.

Desirable

• CIPS qualification (or working towards).
• Experience within educational products, retail, manufacturing or distribution.
• Knowledge of operational supply chain processes.
• Mail order or e-commerce experience.

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commercial awareness and strong business acumen.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to build long-term supplier relationships.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• A proactive attitude with a drive to deliver measurable results.