Insight Select
Active Vacancy
Category Buyer
- Posted on
- 06 November 2026 (Yesterday)
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Closing Date
- 07 December 2026
- Job Reference
- 225810755
About this role
This Category Buyer role is based in Maidstone, Kent, on-site, with a salary of £35,000 to £40,000 plus bonus. Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will take ownership of key spend categories, ensuring products and materials are sourced cost-effectively, delivered on time, and managed through strong supplier relationships. Responsibilities include raising and managing purchase orders, including direct and drop shipments, negotiating delivery schedules and supplier lead times to ensure stock availability, monitoring inventory levels, supporting demand planning, producing supplier scorecards and performance reports, and identifying cost-saving and value improvement opportunities across assigned categories.
Job Description
Category Buyer | Maidstone, Kent (on-site) | £35,000 - £40,000 + bonus
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My client, a leading manufacturer, is seeking a proactive and commercially minded Category Buyer to join their Procurement team.
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Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will take ownership of key spend categories, ensuring products and materials are sourced cost-effectively, delivered on time, and managed through strong supplier relationships.
-
Role and Responsibilities
Essential Skills
Package
-
My client, a leading manufacturer, is seeking a proactive and commercially minded Category Buyer to join their Procurement team.
-
Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will take ownership of key spend categories, ensuring products and materials are sourced cost-effectively, delivered on time, and managed through strong supplier relationships.
-
Role and Responsibilities
- Take ownership of designated product categories, managing supplier performance and commercial outcomes
- Raise and manage purchase orders, including direct and drop shipments
- Negotiate delivery schedules and supplier lead times to ensure stock availability
- Monitor inventory levels and support demand planning activities
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships through regular reviews and meetings
- Produce supplier scorecards and performance reports
- Support the development and improvement of procurement systems, processes, and reporting tools
- Identify cost-saving and value improvement opportunities across assigned categories
Essential Skills
- Previous procurement, purchasing, or category buying experience within a manufacturing, engineering, or construction environment
- Strong supplier management and negotiation skills
- Good understanding of inventory management, demand planning, and forecasting principles
- Experience using ERP or procurement systems
- Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail
- CIPS qualification or studying towards CIPS advantageous but not essential
Package
- £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
- Company bonus scheme
- Car allowance