Engineering Buyer The Role We have an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Buyer to join our Purchasing team on a 12-month basis, covering Maternity Leave. The postholder will play a pivotal role in continuing to drive Procurement Activity across the business in 2026. As part of the Ford's purchasing team, your main objectives will be to negotiate and place orders for machined components and other direct products, ensuring that delivery and quality requirements are maintained by suppliers to meet project deadlines. You will play an important role in supporting the department with the implementation of new strategies, policies, and procedures. In addition to this, you will become a key stakeholder in the supply chain management process within Fords. This role is open to full and part-time applications, with a minimum of consideration of 27.5 hours and/or 4 days per week. Please outline in your application what working hours and pattern you will be looking for. The Company FORDS is an award-winning design and manufacturing business and world leader in packaging innovation and technology. We design and develop unique foil closures, and build cutting edge machinery that delivers, applies, and seals them to all manner of products. For a century Fords has built a trusted reputation for providing innovative and creative sealing solutions to the biggest brands in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care industries. Key Duties Supporting the Purchasing team in the procurement of all materials from the external supply chain. Ensuring that all procured manufactured materials from the external supply chain meet quality, delivery and cost targets. Identification and conversion of requirements from MRP, BOMs and drawings through to the receipt of conforming parts into stores. Requesting for quotations. Analysing quotations and selecting suppliers. Leading negotiations with suppliers to achieve cost reductions. Working with suppliers to organise the return of any faulty parts. Maintaining and developing relationships with supply base. Creating and maintaining supply agreements. Assisting the development of all key suppliers and maintaining supplier KPI's. Driving forward quality improvements and compliance within the supply base. Raising purchase orders. Expediting orders, ensuring delivery dates achieved. Working with Finance to resolve all invoice related queries. Supporting and working closely with Engineering and Design departments on new projects and new concepts. Supporting Commercial team with cost calculations on new enquires. Dealing with requests direct from inhouse mechanical assembly and precision engineering technicians. Support the Purchasing team in making improvements in purchasing processes which will ensure efficiencies are met within the business. Carry out any such tasks as required from time to time, provided they are within the competence of the postholder. Skills/Experience Essential Proven purchasing experience within an engineering/manufacturing environment. Understanding of engineering drawings. A basic understanding of manufacturing processes. Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Office Experience in ERP/MRP systems. Contractual and commercial awareness. Full clean driving licence. Person Specification Highly proactive and enthusiastic. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with the supply chain and internal departments. Confident and assertive when needed, strong influencing skills. A real team player, collaborative and inclusive. Ability to independently problem solve and make decisions. Strong attention to detail, with impeccable thorough and accurate approach. Highly organised and able to prioritise workloads. Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work under pressure. Remuneration £competitive Early Friday finish - 37 hour (full time) working week (Monday to Thursday 8.00am - 4.30pm, Friday 8.00am - 1.00pm) 25 days holiday bank holidays - pro-rated for part time employees Company life insurance x 6 times Pension 5% Access to Independent Financial Adviser Office based - at our newly refurbished office in Kempston, Bedfordshire.