Category Buyer jobs
Responsible for sourcing and procurement, as well as negotiating contracts and monitoring supply levels, a Category Buyer plays an important part in the success of a business. After all, getting goods at a low price and to a set schedule is essential in order to meet client demands.
The category method of supply chain management is mainly used in the retail industry, although other sectors have also adopted the strategy. This technique involves organising products into smaller groups of related goods.
For example, a Category Buyer for a chain of supermarkets may specialise in paper goods, tinned vegetables, fresh poultry or women's clothing.
By specialising in a particular category, buyers can gain a better understanding of their market and make informed decisions that benefit the company and its customers.
The job of a Category Buyer will vary from employer to employer, but the role usually involves developing and implementing strategies for procuring goods, working with providers to improve the quality of the products and finding ways to reduce costs.
The skills required
Those applying for roles as a Category Buyer will need strong analytic skills be able to demonstrate an ability to evaluate information in a systematic way.
Communication and negotiation skills are a must and you should be just as comfortable working as part of a team as you are on your own. The role of a Category Buyer can be extremely stressful, so an ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines is vital.
Other useful skills include good organisation and self-motivation. Depending on the role, being able to speak foreign languages could be beneficial. You should also be proficient with the various software packages, as well as word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Category Buyer Jobs in Suffok
Sharing borders with Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, Suffolk is a county in East Anglia that is situated on the coast of the North Sea.
Although Suffolk does not have any cities within its boundaries, anyone seeking Category Buyer roles in the area will have a number of options to choose from in the larger towns of Lowestoff, Felixstowe and Bury St Edmunds, as well as the county town of Ipswich.
Primarily an agricultural region, Suffolk grows a number of crops including rapeseed, wheat, barley, sugar beet, linseed, oats, rye and various vegetables.
The Port of Felixstowe processes around 35 per cent of the UK's container cargo, making it the largest port of its kind in the country, and one of the busiest in Europe. There's also a port at Ipswich; it is home to a number of shipbuilders and Fairline Yachts has a testing facility here.
Other major employers in Suffolk include Birds Eye, Greene King brewing, Bernard Matthews Farms and Huntley & Palmers. In addition, Premier Foods manufactures Branston Pickle in the region.
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Discover procurement roles with Cast UK
If you're looking to take the next step in your career with a new position as a Category Buyer, Cast UK can help.
Our team of experienced consultants have a unique understanding of the industries in which we work and this knowledge means we can accurately and quickly find the best candidate for each role, saving both applicants and employers time in the recruitment process.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Category Buyer for your business or find you a job as a Category Buyer then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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