Senior Buyer jobs
From manufacturing to communications, retail to defence, transport to education - in just about every sector, there is a need for procurement professionals, and Senior Buyers play an important role in ensuring that goods are sourced on time and within budget.
Of course, every position is different, but in most cases, a Senior Buyer will be responsible for finding suppliers, negotiating contracts and seeking ways to reduce costs, improve quality and increase customer satisfaction.
The skills required
Anyone looking to take on a new role as a Senior Buyer should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the intricacies of the purchasing process, as well as the relevant laws and legislation.
Successful candidates should have good organisation and project management skills, while an ability to build relationships with suppliers and stakeholders is also vital. You should be a confident negotiator with a talent for communicating well with a wide range of people.
Knowledge of the various systems and software used within the procurement industry is recommended, as well as the Microsoft Office package - including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
In most cases, a Senior Buyer will be in charge of a team. Therefore, a strong sense of leadership is a must. So is an ability to train, guide and motivate your team and deal with issues as they arise.
Senior Buyer Jobs in Torquay
Torquay is located on the East-facing coastal area of Devon, in the area called Torbay. Exeter is 17 miles (27 km) to the north and Plymouth is 27 miles (43 k) to the west. Torquay was a tiny fishing and farming village until the Napoleonic wars, when the Royal Navy would take anchor in the bay and the members of the upper ranks would often go to shore in the area. It soon gained a reputation as being a healthy place to stay and by the 19th century, just in time for the arrival of the railways it became a famous spa town and later, a tourist resort. Nowadays it has a static population of around 65,000 but in high season this can swell to 200,000, the size of a small city.
Tourist towns almost always have great logistical requirements, which is why Senior Buyer jobs can sometimes become available in the town or the surrounding area. Torquay is not particularly industrialised, but there are several trading estates dotted around the outskirts. Plymouth and Exeter are better employers and are both nearby, which does make Torquay a popular commuter town, and people living there seeking non-tourism related work will often look north and west.
For its population, Torquay has produced a fair number of world-famous people. Top of the pile is thriller author Agatha Christie, for whom a mile of plaques, the “Agatha Christie Mile”, is dedicated. Peter Cook, one half of Pete and Dud, was born in the town, as was comedy actor Miranda Hart and model Lily Cole. Sketches of The Goodies and Monty Python’s Flying Circus were filmed there, and it was during one of the latter’s stays that the team happened upon a grumpy hotelier who became the inspiration for Basil Fawlty, TV’s most famous Torquay-based hotel owner.
Popular locations
Search for Senior Buyer vacancies with Cast UK
Here at Cast UK, we have worked hard to become one of the UK's leading recruiters in the supply chain & Procurement sector. Our team of consultants have all held roles in these fields, giving them a good understanding of what makes the ideal candidate for a position.
In addition, our regional experts have specialist knowledge about the various parts of the country, and we will work with you to understand your objectives and help ensure your career is headed in the right direction.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Senior Buyer for your business or find you a job as a Senior Buyer then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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