An innovative manufacturing organisation who support the pharmaceutical and medical sectors are urgently seeking a proactive and motivated Junior Buyer to join their fast-growing procurement team in Orpington.
Role: Junior Buyer
Duration: 6-month contract
Pay: £18-20 p/hr (Inside IR35)
Location: Orpington
Working Pattern: 3 / 4 days onsiteAs a Junior Buyer you will play a critical role in ensuring the seamless supply of high-quality materials and services, liaising with key suppliers and processing multiple POs.
Key Responsibilities:
Manage end‑to‑end procurement activities within a busy manufacturing operation.
Take ownership of supplier relationships, including negotiation, performance monitoring, and escalation where needed.
Monitor supplier performance against KPIs and provide reports to the Lead Purchaser.
Lead challenging supplier conversations, especially when pushback arises, staying firm, solutions‑oriented, and commercially focused.
Support and implement sourcing strategies, supply agreements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Evaluate, select, and onboard new suppliers while maintaining a strong grasp of market conditions.This role is ideal for a proactive procurement professional who thrives on building strong supplier relationships, driving cost efficiencies, and supporting cross-functional teams to achieve business goals.
Key Requirements:
Proven experience in fast paced manufacturing environments
Solid purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment (essential).
Supplier management and negotiation experience
Solid understanding of basic procurement principles.
Strong ERP system experience and good analytical capability (Excel or Power BI).
A self‑starter who works effectively with minimal supervision and a proactive, can‑do mindset.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
Large organisation or a fast‑paced SME experience is beneficial.An exciting opportunity for someone with solid procurement experience, strong ERP capability, and the confidence to independently manage suppliers and workloads.
If you're local to Orpington and looking for an impactful procurement role, apply now