Senior Buyer – Outdoor Equipment
£50,000–£60,000 | Southampton, UK (Hybrid)
We are recruting for a UK’s leading roof tent brand, empowering people to embrace freedom and adventure. They make outdoor exploration simple, stylish, and accessible — whether you’re a weekend camper, a solo explorer, or a full-time adventurer.
The Opportunity
Looking for a Senior Buyer with deep experience sourcing finished goods and sub-components — ideally in outdoor, automotive, or consumer goods.
You’ll own supplier relationships, manage global procurement, and drive commercial excellence across our international supply chain — with a strong focus on Chinese manufacturing and FOB purchasing.
What You’ll Do
Product Procurement
1. Source finished products (camping chairs, flasks, accessories) and sub-components (hinges, fixings, brackets).
2. Collaborate closely with design and product teams to integrate new items into our range.
Supplier Management
3. Build and maintain trusted supplier relationships — primarily in China.
4. Conduct factory visits to review production, tooling, and quality processes.
Commercial Negotiation
5. Negotiate pricing, terms, rebates, and tooling agreements.
6. Drive competitive landed costs without compromising quality.
Cost & Margin Control
7. Analyse costs, track prices, and forecast profitability across SKUs.
8. Manage landed cost models and benchmark supplier performance.
Compliance & Quality
9. Oversee tooling, sampling, and pre-production QC.
10. Ensure adherence to international trade laws and compliance standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
11. Partner with e-commerce, marketing, and ops teams for seamless product launches.
About You
12. 7-10+ years’ experience in senior buying roles.
13. Proven expertise in sourcing from China; regular factory travel experience.
14. Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
15. Proficient in Excel, cost modelling, and landed cost analysis.
16. Fluent Mandarin (spoken/written) — highly advantageous.
17. Solid understanding of manufacturing, tooling, and quality assurance.
18. Confident communicator across cultures and functions.
If you’re ready to help shape the future of outdoor adventure — we’d love to hear from you.