Senior Food Buyer

Procurement Heads’ Consumer team are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to join a multiple award winning organisation that is one of the leaders in the retail food sector with recognisable products on the shelves of major retailers. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and ambitious Senior Buyer with strong food procurement experience, ideally from a retail or FMCG background. The business is entering a new phase of growth, and this role has been designed with succession into the Head of Procurement firmly in mind. Based in Surrey office (Minutes from Junction 8 of the M25)  Monday–Thursday on site with Friday work from home. The ideal Senior Buyer will have significant experience in strategic procurement, working with international food suppliers, negotiating complex deals, and leading or mentoring teams. This is a highly commercial role, and we're looking for someone ready to step into leadership over time. This organisation is a fast-growing player in the food and beverage sector, supplying a diverse range of products to well-known UK retailers. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Procurement: Source and purchase from international manufacturers. Work with an established supply base while identifying, reviewing, and onboarding new suppliers. Supplier Relationships: Build and maintain strong partnerships to ensure quality, innovation, and continuity of supply. Supply Chain Resilience: Anticipate potential issues and develop strategic solutions to mitigate risk. Market Intelligence: Monitor global food market trends and pricing to inform buying strategy and commercial decisions. Inventory Management: Ensure optimal stock levels to balance availability with waste reduction. Compliance: Ensure procurement activity complies with industry standards, ethical practices, and internal policies. Reporting: Produce regular insights on procurement performance, supplier metrics, and category trends. Leadership: Support or manage junior team members; contribute to procurement capability development across the team. Required Experience of the Senior Buyer: Experience: Minimum 3 years in procurement, ideally in food or retail sectors, with a proven ability to manage international supply relationships. Strategic Skills: Strong understanding of commercial negotiation, global sourcing, and supply chain planning. Leadership Potential: Previous team management or mentoring experience is highly desirable. Communication: Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills. Values: Committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing practices. Benefits:        Competitive salary in line with experience: £50,000- £60,000 Bonus Medical cover Work from home on Fridays Career progression plan into Head of Procurement

Created: 2025-08-06