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Senior Buyer
Location: Ferndown, Dorset
Working pattern: Full-time, hybrid working
Reports to: CFO
Employment type: Permanent
About imageHOLDERS
imageHOLDERS is a design-led manufacturer of self-service kiosks, tablet enclosures and digital display solutions.
We work with customers across retail, hospitality, healthcare, leisure and public spaces, creating modular and bespoke products that help organisations engage customers, process payments, share information and collect data.
Operating from the UK, with operations also in Canada, we combine in-house design and engineering expertise with a flexible, customer-led approach to product development.
The role
We are looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to take ownership of end-to-end procurement across the business.
This is a hands-on role in a small team, so the successful person will need to be comfortable moving between strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations and the day-to-day management of purchase orders. You will be expected to roll your sleeves up, get involved and make sure the procurement function delivers what the wider business needs.
You will manage key suppliers and product categories, source materials and components, raise and track purchase orders and work closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Sales and Logistics to ensure goods are ordered and delivered at the right cost, quality and lead time.
The role will also involve developing supplier relationships, improving procurement processes, supporting a small procurement team and helping build a more structured, data-led supply chain function as the business grows.
Key responsibilities
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- Manage the full procurement cycle, from identifying requirements and sourcing suppliers through to raising, tracking and closing purchase orders
- Review purchasing requirements and place orders in line with production, project and customer deadlines
- Monitor open purchase orders, supplier acknowledgements, delivery dates and outstanding actions
- Resolve shortages, late deliveries, pricing issues and other supplier-related problems
- Develop sourcing strategies for assigned suppliers and product categories
- Identify, assess and onboard new suppliers where required
- Lead RFQs, tenders, commercial negotiations and contract discussions
- Build strong relationships with strategic suppliers and act as the main commercial point of contact
- Monitor supplier delivery, quality, lead times and commercial performance
- Conduct supplier reviews and agree improvement plans where performance falls below expectations
- Deliver measurable cost savings and manage purchase price variance against budget
- Monitor market, commodity and supply chain trends and identify risks before they affect the business
- Support sourcing for new product introduction and customer-led product development
- Ensure purchasing activity, supplier commitments and delivery dates are accurately recorded within the ERP/MRP system
- Work closely with internal teams to balance cost, quality, service and continuity of supply
- Support and develop the procurement team, promoting strong commercial and purchasing practices
- Contribute to continuous improvement across procurement, inventory and supplier management
About you
You will have:
- Proven experience in a Buyer or Senior Buyer role within a manufacturing, engineering, electronics or hardware environment
- Strong hands-on experience managing end-to-end procurement and purchase orders
- A willingness to take ownership of both strategic and day-to-day purchasing activity
- A strong track record of leading supplier negotiations and delivering measurable cost savings
- Experience managing strategic suppliers and improving supplier performance
- Strong commercial judgement, with the ability to balance cost, quality, service and risk
- Confidence working with technical drawings, specifications and engineering teams
- Experience using ERP or MRP systems and purchasing data to support decision-making
- Strong spreadsheet and analytical skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- The confidence to challenge suppliers and internal stakeholders constructively
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
- Experience supervising, coaching or supporting others within a procurement environment
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CIPS Level 4, or progress towards an equivalent procurement qualification, would be beneficial. A relevant degree is desirable but not essential.
Experience within kiosks, digital displays, electronics, fabricated products or modular manufacturing would be an advantage.
What success looks like
- Supplier on-time-in-full delivery
- Effective management of open and overdue purchase orders
- Supplier quality performance
- Cost savings and purchase price variance
- Lead-time improvement
- Supplier scorecard results
- Inventory optimisation
- ERP and MRP data accuracy
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