Average Assistant Buyer salary in the UK

BuyerLocation: Sudbury (Chilton Industrial Estate)Package: Up to £30,000 annual salary plus bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday to FridaySector: Packaging distributionProtecting what matters, together We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities, and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a collaborative, supportive, and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows. With over 75 years of history, we offer stability alongside continued growth. Our fast-paced, results-driven environment will challenge and stretch you, but also provide genuine opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to influence our success and share in that achievement.The Buyer Role As our Buyer within our local procurement team, you’ll play a key role in supporting the efficient sourcing and supply of products to meet customer demand, sales targets, and profitability objectives. Working closely with internal teams and suppliers, you’ll ensure stock is sourced competitively, delivered on time, and meets required quality standards. You’ll also contribute to the ongoing development of the supplier base, helping to drive cost efficiencies, improve service levels, and support wider procurement strategy. This is a varied and commercially focused role, offering exposure to supplier negotiation, stock management, and supply chain optimisation within a fast-paced distribution environment.Key responsibilitiesSupport the management and development of the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) supplier baseNegotiate pricing, terms, and service levels with suppliers to ensure best value and performanceProcess and manage purchase orders, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement activityWork closely with the Category Manager and Procurement Manager to align with wider procurement strategySource alternative suppliers where required to reduce risk and improve competitivenessMonitor supplier performance, addressing any quality or service issues promptlySupport tender processes to secure favourable commercial termsDevelop awareness of stock holding costs and take action to minimise excess or obsolete stockCollaborate with logistics and warehouse teams to optimise stock availability and flowBuild strong product knowledge across packaging solutionsPromote effective cross-functional working across departments and RDCs What you will bring You’ll ideally have experience within a fast-paced purchasing or procurement environment and be confident working with suppliers, managing priorities, and supporting commercial decision-making. Essential: Experience within a purchasing or procurement roleStrong communication and negotiation skillsAbility to prioritise workload within a fast-paced environmentGood IT skills, including Microsoft Office Desirable: 18+ months buying experience within a commercial environmentExperience working with multiple product lines and supplier basesFamiliarity with systems such as ERP/SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or similarCIPS qualification (or interest in working towards this)Experience of cross-functional working with sales, logistics, or operations What you will get We provide a competitive basic salary alongside a range of bonus and incentive schemes. Our flexible benefits package can include: 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus bank holidaysAdditional holiday purchasing schemeContributory pension schemeFree parking at most locationsAnnual volunteering dayEmployee assistance programmeExtensive training and development opportunitiesEmployee discount schemeSimply Health/Dental or BUPA options for qualifying rolesEnhanced HR policies and long service awardsEE mobile discount schemeCandidate referral schemeYour future with us At Macfarlane Group, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your own career. We actively support internal progression and provide structured development pathways, combining in-house expertise with external training partners. You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue professional development through recognised bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), helping you to build a long-term career within procurement and supply chain.Next Steps/How to Apply We are working swiftly to find the best applicants and hope to hold local interviews ASAP. Please click ‘apply’ to submit your up-to-date CV. All applications will be acknowledged. If you haven’t heard from us within two weeks, please assume your application was unsuccessful. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly. No recruitment agencies please

BuyerLocation: Avonmouth, Cabot ParkPackage: Basic salary up to £34,000 (dependent on experience) plus bonus & flexible benefits package including 25 days annual leave. Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pmSector: Packaging distributionProtecting what matters, together We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities, and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continual improvement creates a highly collaborative, supportive, and friendly workplace where you can unpack a career that grows. With history stretching back over 75 years, we offer stability whilst always striving for continual growth. Our fast-paced, results-driven approach will challenge and often stretch you, but it will also give you opportunities for personal and professional development. Every colleague has the chance to directly influence our success, leading to real job satisfaction and achievement, at all stages of your career. We provide competitive pay and personalised incentives, alongside adaptable benefits to make your rewards package go further. And additionally, the way we work prioritises work-life balance and flexibility, empowering our colleagues to manage what is most important to them. Our business values commitment, diligence, teamwork, adaptability, and a thirst for learning… so if this sounds like you, come and join us to help drive change that enables businesses to plan for a better future.The Buyer Role Working as a member of our local procurement team in Avonmouth. In this role, you will support efficient procurement processes to meet sales and profit targets. Responsibilities shall include sourcing products at competitive prices, ensuring quality, and meeting delivery timelines. Collaborating closely with our internal and sales teams, you will adhere to and uphold our procurement strategies whilst negotiating terms with suppliers to drive operational efficiency. Monitoring market trends and supplier performance, you will identify opportunities for process improvement and cost optimisation, contributing to the organisation's competitiveness and profitability. Please note, this position is wholly office based and due to the location of our Avonmouth site, own transport is preferred.Buyer Key DutiesSupport the management and development of the Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) supplier base to deliver maximum service at the lowest cost.Negotiate prices and service agreements with local suppliers to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality standards.Liaise with the Category Manager and Procurement Manager to align RDC procurement strategy with company objectives.Ensure that RDC purchasing transactions are carried out in a timely and cost-effective manner, administering purchase orders and associated administration efficiently.Manage the tender process efficiently to secure competitive pricing and favourable terms from suppliers.Source alternative suppliers when necessary to diversify supplier base and mitigate risks.Monitor quality and service levels regularly to maintain high standards and address any issues promptly.Develop awareness of the profit implications of stock holding costs, including redundant and damaged stock, and take appropriate actions to minimise losses.Work in partnership with the Logistics and Warehouse team to optimise stock holding volumes and ensure efficient inventory management.Develop and maintain a good knowledge of all packaging solutions, sharing insights and expertise with colleagues to enhance collective knowledge. Negotiate discounts based on volumes with local suppliers to maximise margin and profitability.Identify potential customers from supplier contacts to explore business opportunities and expand customer base.Promote cooperation between departments and RDCs across the group to enhance operational efficiency and collaboration. What you will bring The successful applicant will ideally meet with the following criteria… Essential: Experience of working within a fast-paced purchasing environment with the ability to prioritise tasks effectivelyVaried exposure to product sourcing across a range of local & national suppliers Experience of negotiating best price & service to secure new supplier arrangementsSound communication skills both verbal and writtenIT/PC literate with solid competency and working knowledge of Microsoft Office and internet Desirable: Prior experience of Microsoft Dynamics and/or other sourcing software packagesMinimum 18 months buying experience within a commercial purchasing/procurement environmentA background of working with hundreds of different product lines and unique item codesExperience in prior role of close inter-department working (i.e. with sales/purchasing)CIPs accredited & part or full qualifiedPrior knowledge of general packaging, packaging design, and their applicationWhat you will get We provide a competitive basic starting salary (weighted higher to reflect tempoary contract) and operate a range of rewarding bonus/incentive schemes. Our flexible employee benefits package can include: - 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidaysAdditional Holiday purchasing scheme (run annually)Contributory pension schemeFree parking at most of our site locationsAnnual (company paid) volunteering dayEmployee assistance program to support & advise with well-being & any issuesExtensive range of training/development & potential progression opportunitiesEmployee discount scheme (discounts on several major retail/leisure brands)Simply Health/Dental Cover option or BUPA cover for qualifying rolesEnhanced HR policies relating to various employee rights & en

Market-leading manufacturing business requires a Buyer. Applicants should have experience in procurement or purchasing as a; Buyer, Junior Buyer Purchasing Assistant or Procurement Administrator, and ideally have previous exposure to an MRP/ERP system. Hybrid working role.The Buyer will join a team of Buyers reporting to a Senior Buyer. The role will be a mix of MRP purchasing, expediting and administrative tasks. This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced production manufacturing environment and join a business who are true leaders within their field.Specific duties of the Buyer include:Execute purchasing activities inline with MRP demand and business requirementsRaise and manage purchase orders accurately and in a timely mannerExpedite orders and maintain close communication with suppliers to ensure OTD/OTIFLiaise with internal departments (planning, production, engineering, quality) to align purchasing needsMaintain accurate purchasing data in the MRP/ERP system, including lead times, pricing, and supplier detailsAssist with resolving invoice discrepancies, delivery issues, and non-conformance matters, NCRsSupport the procurement team with general administrative duties and reportingBuyer applicants should meet the following criteria:Previous experience as a Buyer, Junior Buyer, Assistant Buyer or in Purchasing Administration or Supply ChainComfort in, and familiarity to an engineering or manufacturing environmentProactive, positive and detail orientatedMRP or ERP literacy would be advantageousStrong relationship building skills, with both internal and external partiesComfortable with hybrid working pattern