Senior Buyer
Salary: Competitive
Contract Type: Full Time
Working Pattern: Permanent
About the role:
As a Senior Buyer in JCB’s Plastics Team, you will play a key role in securing high-quality, cost-effective plastic components that support the production of world-class off-highway machines. You will manage supplier relationships, deliver cost savings, support new product introduction (NPI) projects, and contribute to continuous supply chain improvement across JCB’s global manufacturing footprint.
The Senior Buyer will on occasion deputise for the Purchase Manager and, depending on experience, be responsible for managing a commercial portfolio, supporting the launch of a NPIP programme and producing monthly financial & KPI reports.
This is a fast-paced, hands‑on role requiring strong commercial awareness, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate across engineering, quality, operations, and category teams.
Daily responsibilities
* Manage a diverse portfolio of plastics suppliers, ensuring quality, cost and delivery targets are met.
* Assist stakeholders in establishing and managing resolution of issues relating to price, capacity, quality, and customer service/warranty.
* Support the team with commercial guidance and training.
* Oversee the implementation of strategies, facilitate the timely execution of products for new product launches, and supplier recovery and/or improvement programmes.
* Work with the team to develop commercial contracts & strategies to deliver the financial targets.
* Lead resourcing and cost‑down initiatives to maximise competitiveness and supply resilience.
* Support category strategy development and define supplier performance criteria based on business knowledge and intelligence.
* Deal directly with day‑to‑day supplier operational escalation for the category.
* Identify business structure collaboration required to ensure optimisation of resources within a category.
Qualifications & experience
* Purchasing experience in a fast-paced setting, preferably in an Engineering or Manufacturing environment; however, this is not essential.
* Understanding of category management, budget planning, supplier contracts, and project management.
* Excellent communication skills that help you negotiate and lead teams.
* Highly motivated, meticulous, and tenacious approach.
* CIPS qualification or relevant degree.
* High levels of financial awareness, NPI experience, and keen attention to detail.
Benefits
Competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday, company pension, onsite gym, in‑house doctor and dentist, ULEV car scheme, JCB Rewards Hub discounts, Cycle to Work Scheme.
Diversity & Inclusion
We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our recruitment team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format.
Recruitment Agencies
JCB does not accept any speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.
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