Buyer Due to our continued growth and internal restructuring, we have an exciting new opportunity for a Buyer, based at our head office in Sheffield. What is the role? Working alongside other members of the Supply Chain and Operations teams, you will be responsible for purchasing all raw materials for use within the production environments of both the Sheffield HQ and new European Facility in Obernai due to be operational midway through 2025 The successful candidate will take responsibility for a spend of £15m today, with growth forecasts expected to double this level over the next 5 years. Additional key duties will include: Raising and managing purchase orders to align stock levels with pre-agreed targets and support both larger and ad-hoc production needs Working with the supply chain team to support the scheduling receipts to meet the dynamic demands of the production schedule Collaborating with the whole Supply Chain Team to maintain a secondary supply and supply security policy Leading pricing negotiations and setting supplier performance requirements Serving as the main point of contact with all suppliers for pricing and performance. Managing supplier relationships to maintain long-term partnerships and ensure continuity of supply Identifying and mitigating risks in the supply chain, developing contingency plans for potential disruptions Monitoring and controlling procurement costs to maximize value and identify cost-saving opportunities Conducting market analysis to stay informed of trends and developing sourcing strategies to support production needs Working with the Supply Chain team to ensure supplier compliance with ethical, environmental, and legal standards through regular assessments and audits Who you are The successful applicant should have experience in supply chain, purchasing, or a similar field and be capable of building strong relationships across the supply chain. In addition, you should be able to demonstrate the following qualities: Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and a proactive, methodical approach A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and motivation to succeed Strong interpersonal skills for professional communication with suppliers Computer literacy in Word, Excel, and Outlook The ability to work both as part of a team and independently Enthusiasm and willingness to learn, with the ability to work proactively on your own initiative Strategic thinking to align procurement activities with broader business goals Data analysis skills for reviewing trends, supplier performance, and cost efficiencies Advanced negotiation skills to secure favourable terms and reliable supply Cross-functional collaboration to work effectively with Finance, Production, and Quality Assurance Able to display the Loadhog Edge qualities; To work with integrity and professionalism in a highly confidential environment, have the passion to do your very best and a sense of ownership of both the role and the business. Innovation will be at your core as you bring new ideas and ways of working to the team and you will be unafraid to challenge both yourself and others. You will have an ability to engage with and energise people at all levels of the business and work as a team with colleagues to make Loadhog an amazing place to work. Finally, you will be committed to support our local community, to have fun and make positive changes. Who are Loadhog? Multi award-winning Loadhog designs and manufactures returnable packaging solutions for a diverse range of industries, from manufacturing, postal to retail. Our employee-owned business is highly entrepreneurial, with all employees joining the company purchasing shares, thereby creating employee engagement, individual wealth and a strong team spirit. Headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, along with a site in Europe, we are known for our market leading RTP innovations. We continue to invest in new products and manufacturing capacity, having a target to deliver 25% of our turnover from products less than five years old. We have set a challenging vision for our business and we have been on track for the last 4 years. We take pride in doing things differently; that is why we challenge over 250 employees across the world to stamp their own footprint on our company values: the ‘Loadhog Edge’. What we offer The benefits package includes a competitive basic salary and 15% non-contributory pension, plus life assurance, private medical cover, permanent health insurance, a share purchase scheme and gym membership after successful completion of probationary period. Get in touch To apply, applicants should submit their CV, along with a covering letter explaining reasons for applying via the following link: https://gripple.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v870c9d00-0548-4a4d-9072-8d841adadb05 Deadline for applications: 2nd January 2025 A polite note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept applicants from recruitment agencies. If we do need support, we will be in touch