category buyer (engineering / manufacturing).

Position Type: 12-Month Contract

• Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• Friday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Early weekend finish!) Pay Rates: £28.30 - £32.30 per hour

• Start Date: ASAP

Are you an experienced procurement professional with a strong track record in the engineering or manufacturing sectors? Looking for a long-term, stable contract that offers an exceptional work-life balance and a 1:00 PM finish every single Friday?

We are seeking a commercially minded Category Buyer to deliver end-to-end supply network solutions. Utilizing Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) frameworks, you will play a vital role in driving maximum value, mitigating supply chain risks, and fostering elite vendor partnerships.

What You'll Do:

• Strategy Execution: Develop, manage, and execute comprehensive category strategies, overseeing purchasing policies, master agreements, source catalogs, and specialized procurement programs.

• Cost & Quality Optimization: Proactively identify opportunities for sustainable cost decreases, inventory reductions, and product quality improvements.

• Supplier Liaison: Act as the primary, explicit communication link between the organization and external suppliers, balancing manufacturing production demands with external supplier conditions.

• Performance Tracking: Closely monitor and document supplier performance regarding production quality and time-sensitiveness, maintaining robust, long-term vendor relationships.

• Risk Assessment: Take full accountability for the economic soundness of business proposals and conduct thorough vendor risk assessments.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements):

• Industry Background: Proven purchasing or buyer experience specifically within the Engineering or Manufacturing industries.

• Data Analytics: Working knowledge of inspecting, transforming, and modeling supply chain data to discover trends, evaluate performance, and present clear findings to management.

• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: A solid understanding of strategic sourcing methodologies and commercial negotiation concepts to build trust and collaborate constructively with vendors.

• Purchasing Systems Mastery: Practical experience using modern procurement tools and tracking purchasing tasks (bidding, orders) while ensuring absolute compliance with contract specifications.

• Communication Skills: The ability to present technical reports orally and in writing, handle feedback constructively, and explicitly collaborate across various business departments.

Why Apply for This Contract?

• Premium Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a highly structured 37-hour work week with a short day every single Friday.

• Long-Term Stability: A secure 12-month contract with a global market leader.

Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.