Junior Buyer

Your new company An award-winning engineering company based in Cardiff. Your new role Working as a Junior Buyer, responsibilities include but are not limited to: Commercial Delivery and Excellence - Drive value for money, profitability and operational efficiency through effective sourcing, negotiation and contract management. Category and Contract Management - Apply category management principles, draft and support contracts, monitor supplier KPIs and build strategic supplier relationships. Sourcing and Negotiation - Issue RFQs, evaluate bid proposals and negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms to support informed decision-making. Supplier Management - Manage supplier approval processes, maintain accurate records and ensure suppliers meet quality, delivery and performance expectations. Operational Support - Raise, process and expedite purchase orders for direct and indirect materials, resolving supply issues to maintain production schedules. Cost Control and Financial Governance - Monitor procurement spend, identify cost-saving opportunities and support budget management, reconciliations and month-end processes. Demand Planning and Risk Management - Conduct forecasting to maintain appropriate stock levels, mitigate supply chain risks and prevent shortages. Continuous Improvement - Contribute to procurement improvement initiatives and cross-functional projects to enhance efficiency and supply chain performance. What you'll need to succeed You'll have previous experience in a Junior Buying / Purchasing role previously, or undertaken buying / purchasing / procurement as part of a wider role. You will work closely with internal stakeholders across production, engineering and finance to identify requirements, source and evaluate suppliers, obtain competitive quotations and negotiate commercial terms to secure best value while minimising risk.The role plays a key part in ensuring quality, reliability and performance standards are consistently met within a safety-critical rail and rolling stock environment. What you'll get in return This is a permanent role offering a salary of £26,000 - £30,000 based on experience. This is a fully office-based role, based in the Cardiff area, Monday to Friday. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)