Senior Buyer

Porvair Filtration Group; Fareham; On-site; GBP 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading filtration solutions provider located in Fareham is looking for a Senior Buyer to lead and manage a procurement team. This role involves supplier management, negotiation, and ensuring operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in manufacturing procurement, preferably in a regulated environment, and must hold relevant qualifications like CIPS Level 4. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £52k based on experience.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of relevant experience in manufacturing procurement.
• Experience in aerospace or similar environments is a plus.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams across various levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement team and ensure operational efficiency.
• Lead supplier risk management activities.
• Negotiate improved terms and manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Leadership abilities

Negotiation skills

Commercial awareness

Data management

ERP systems experience

Education

CIPS Level 4 Procurement and Supply

Degree in Engineering, Business, Management

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Tools

MS Office – 365

SYSPRO

Job description

Closing date for applications: 27 Feb 2026
Salary: Upto £52k per annum based on experience
Location: Porvair Filtration Group, Segensworth, Fareham

Senior Buyer

Upto £52k per annum based on experience

Main purpose of job role:

Responsible for daily leadership and management of procurement team – coordination, training, facilitation and execution of operational activities and continuous improvement projects for lowest cost of acquisition. Lead supplier, risk and technical management activities and support for new product introduction. Enable and support creation of a growth and learning culture; a continuous improvement environment using lean principles and methodology to drive improved operational performance, effectiveness and delivery against KPI (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People).

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Team Management

• Ensure safe working practices and conditions exist within the procurement environment
• Prioritise resources to ensure that business goals are met
• Support setting of departmental objectives and KPI, review and assess ongoing performance
• Achieve budget and forecast on department spend and savings
• Leadership and oversight of all site purchasing activity
  • Strategic: supplier management incl. risk management (in alignment with business strategy)
  • Operational: demand and open order management including inventory management
  • Technical: product management including project purchasing
• Active participation and promotion of daily Tiered Accountability for escalation and support
• Enable and leverage continuous improvement initiatives with support functions to drive performance gains
• Ensure trained resource is available to meet workload and regularly assess workforce competencies
• Provide day-to-day management of the team, including attendance and performance oversight
• Manage team development through clear training plans and objectives
• Performance manage team
• Ensure adherence to MRP schedule, collaborating with MPS function to optimise delivery attainment
• Support Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning (SIOP) process to ensure manufacturing capability is aligned to forecasted business demand
• Deliver pro-active supply chain participation in product development projects – supplier selection, delivery of technical and cost requirements to specification
• Engage with operations and engineering teams to provide necessary technical input to strategic purchasing discussion
• Ensure contracts and Long-Term-Agreements (LTA) as appropriate are placed for series production parts
• Collaborate with customers on specified suppliers and other supply chain activities
• Ensure team create accurate RFQ, Purchase Orders and all other processes as per procedure
• Liaison with all other functions (e.g. Finance for accounts Payable to resolve invoice queries)
• Prepare and present data for monthly reporting including trends and plans for improvement
• Promote Supplier Relationship Management (SRM). Optimise supply chain flow and mitigate strategic risk through facilitation and collaboration of regular reviews with key suppliers and Porvair stakeholders
• Control rejects, returns and non-conformance, driving corrective action planning to eliminate recurrence
• Audit suppliers in collaboration with Quality function, documenting supplier meetings. Manage qualification of suppliers to regulatory and customer requirements where needed
• Monitor risk to business operation and drive proactive response to protect On-Time-Delivery (OTD)
• Identify new and alternate suppliers to ensure business needs are met and build a resilient supplier portfolio, mitigating risk and minimising business exposure

Continuous Improvement, Cost Management and Reduction

• Cost development, cost and lead time reduction of suppliers using cost down roadmaps to meet supply chain savings targets. Target insourcing opportunities
• Negotiate improved terms and conditions, payment terms, buffer stock, free delivery and alternate methods to achieve lowest cost of acquisition whilst maintaining or exceeding quality and delivery performance and ensuring continuity of supply
• Support internal and external audit plans, conducting duties effectively and addressing non-conformity observations timely

Other Duties

• Active contribution to developing the Quality Management System (QMS) and promoting compliance
• Support statutory, customer, regulatory and corporate reporting requirements as necessary
• Support internal audit plan, conducting duties effectively and addressing non-conformity observations timely
• Support and drive company initiatives to reinforce our Company Values
• Perform other tasks as required

Essential Qualifications:

• CIPS Level 4 Procurement and Supply qualified or equivalent experience
• Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Business, Management or a related discipline
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Desirable Qualifications:

• CIPS Level 5 Procurement and Supply qualified or equivalent experience
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher

Skills & Knowledge Required:

• Relevant experience leading buying team in a high performing regulated environment
• Ability to motivate teams and lead change at all levels of the organisation, influencing 360
• Performance management, learning and development
• Experience using ERP systems (e.g. SYSPRO) and engineering data (cycle times, yields etc.)
• Procurement of commodities across series production and successful New Product Introduction
• Commercial awareness and understanding of contracts
• Strong and comprehensive negotiation capability
• Ability to read/interpret technical data/drawings
• Highly competent in data management and its application to drive business decision making
• MS Office – 365, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio
• Understanding and working knowledge of AS9100 requirements or alternatively IATF 16949 or ISO9001
• Lean – experience and direct delivery of business operation transformation activities
• Mechanical component/machining procurement within Engineering environment
• Execution and application of tiered accountability for daily management operating system

Experience Required:

• 3-5 years’ relevant experience in manufacturing procurement
• 2-3 years’ experience within aerospace or similar high mix, low volume manufacturing environment

Personal Skills Required:

The Senior Buyer is a result driven individual with flexibility in all aspects of their work. A good communicator with all levels of personnel, they are confident in leading others in a positive manner to deliver on time, in full. Familiar with global purchasing practices and documents, i.e. contracts, leases, payment techniques they are proficient to create, review, comprehend, interpret, process and evaluate documents written at the highest levels in English. Competent at delegation and making key decisions to achieve results, they have excellent organizational awareness and always ensure compliance to regulations and procedures, maintaining the highest standards of safety and operating practice.

Capable to manage their workload independently they demonstrate willingness to adapt and embrace changing business needs, bringing their team and peers along with them. Comfortable as a coach and leader, they are capable in managing conflict and prepared to challenge others to optimise business performance. It is vital that they are both a team leader and team player.

All employees are expected to strive to meet the company values of Our People, Customer Focus, Integrity, Innovation and Quality.

• Regularly makes positive contributions that promote and improve working practices and behaviour in others
• Completes tasks to a high standard according to guidelines, policies, procedures
• Has a dynamic approach to work, working flexibly, willingly and in co-operation with others
• Adopts active and positive role in team meetings and shares knowledge and information with team members
• Distinguishes between facts and assumptions and asks questions to clarify understanding
• Works well under time pressure, remains positive, credible and professional – acts as a role model
• Maintains confidentiality, is trustworthy and readily assumes accountability for own actions
• Understands own role and responsibilities as well as the roles and responsibilities of others
• Works effectively with minimal supervision – reviews and evaluates own goals
• Takes the initiative to solve day-to-day problems in own area of work
• Actively listens to new ideas and demonstrates willingness to try out new ideas
• Knows where to go and what questions to ask to access the right information
• Accepts change and is positive in adopting and promoting improved working methods
• Demonstrates awareness of different ways of work; offers workable solutions and embraces suggestions
• Recognises when to ask for advice and when to inform others
• Demonstrates readiness to learn more and develop own performance

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