Lead Buyer jobs
The lead buyer in a manufacturing company is a role that comes with huge responsibility. He or she will need to ensure the steady flow of raw materials, components or other critical materials reaches the factory floor to create a seamless, endless supply, ensuring there is never any downtime through lack of availability. This will mean keeping an eye on several strands at once, such as warehouse levels (making sure they are not too high as well as too low), availability on the market of the materials in question and the expected capacity and productivity of the factory (especially where seasonal effects are present).
They will also be in charge of keeping the costs as low as possible, so the job will involve a good deal of making contact with suppliers and potential suppliers in order to strike deals with them. The lead buyer will usually have a set budget and keeping within it will sometimes require a good deal of creativity, thinking on one’s feet and negotiation.
Many lead buyers will head up a department of junior buyers or buyers of certain categories of supplies, so management skills will be required, rounding off a set of abilities that combine to make the lead buyer one of the key employees of a manufacturing enterprise. The sway the lead buyer holds of the company’s profits cannot be overestimated, and for this reason lead buyers will be drawn from candidates with excellent experience of buying, preferably at a managerial level.
The skills required
Successful lead buyers will be people who can absorb themselves entirely into the operation of a manufacturing company. They will need to be able to know exactly what supplies need to come in through the factory gates at any time and how much they cost – and they will have a hand in determining these facts too. They will be expected to hit the ground running and make a positive change to the company from day one, sourcing materials and goods, driving down costs and arranging timely delivery.
Needless to say, this is a role that will suit not only people who can handle pressure, but also those who thrive on it. When overseeing a team of buyers, it’s important to deal with them in a courteous and positive manner even when things aren’t running to plan.
Superb communication and management skills will round up the competencies required of the lead buyer. It’s a role not everyone will be able to rise to, even those with extensive procurement experience. There will definitely need to be the instinct to make things happen and to act on it.
Lead Buyer Jobs in West Sussex
A scenic county in southern England and, according to the Met Office, the sunniest county in the UK, West Sussex shares borders with Surrey, East Sussex and Hampshire, as well as Brighton and Hove. It also has an expansive coastline on the English Channel.
The county town of West Sussex is Chichester, while other major settlements in the area include Crawley, Bognor Regis, Horsham, Burgess Hill, Littlehampton and Haywards Heath. Indeed, the region offers a variety of options for anyone seeking Lead Buyer positions.
Various large companies are based in West Sussex or have operations in the region. These include Rolls Royce, Roche Diagnostics, Network Technology, BOC Edwards, Novartis and RSA Insurance Group. The Body Shop was founded here in 1976, and is now part of the L'Oreal group.
The local economy also relies on tourism, with visitors coming to enjoy the sunshine and sea air, while the service sector and retail are important as well.
What's more, Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex. Situated less than 30 miles from central London, it's the capital's second largest international airport and the country's second busiest in terms of passenger traffic. It serves a variety of airlines, including BA, Aer Lingus, EasyJet, Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook and processes a significant amount of cargo as well.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so we are well placed to find you work in logistics, procurement or supply chain wherever you are located or plan to locate. If you’re moving house, please see if there are any positions available in the area you’re moving to; and if you’re simply looking for more fulfilment in your working life, there could be an employer looking for the skills you have.
We were founded by specialists in the fields, and our consultants are all from these backgrounds too, so we have in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for. Employers come to us to find candidates because they’re confident that we’ll help them find the most appropriate managers and executives.
When we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise, so do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in procurement.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Lead Buyer for your business or find you a job as a Lead Buyer then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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