Job Description
Job Title: Project Buyer
Salary: Circa £40,000 – £47,000
Benefits: 8% Bonus, Healthcare & Dental, Life Insurance + more
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Worcester, Worcestershire
Job Start date: ASAP
Shift Pattern: Monday to Thurs 8am-4:30pm, Friday 8am-3pm
We’re supporting our client, a global, leading manufacturer based in Worcester, who are looking for a Project Buyer to join their growing team. The successful Project Buyer will have previous experience in a manufacturing environment.
What You’ll Do
- Engage with NPD and Project Management teams from the early design stage to provide reliable budget and firm cost and delivery proposals from approved supply chain sources.
- Manage RFQ packages end-to-end, targeting an initial budget proposal within 24 hours and a firm proposal within three working days.
- Lead supplier identification, selection and qualification for new projects, evaluating vendors against technical, commercial and quality criteria.
- Negotiate pricing, tooling costs, lead times and payment terms to achieve project cost targets and build long-term supplier partnerships.
- Manage all procurement through prototyping, tooling, capital assets and external testing — raising purchase orders and tracking milestones throughout.
- Lead the transition from prototype approval into initial and volume production, then prepare and deliver a formal handover to the facility Production Buyer at PPAP sign-off.
What We’re Looking For
- A minimum of 2 years’ experience in procurement or supply chain within a manufacturing environment – experience in the automotive industry is essential, with a clear understanding of first-tier customer requirements including APQP, PPAP and FAI processes.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, tolerances and materials specifications, with familiarity across processes such as stamping, plastic injection moulding and die-casting.
- A proven track record of gaining supplier commitment against demanding cost, quality and delivery requirements during new product introduction.
- Excellent communicator who can operate confidently across engineering, quality and commercial functions in a fast-moving NPD environment.
- A degree in engineering, supply chain or a related discipline is preferred.
Job Application:
If you would like to be considered for the role of Project Buyer, please apply with your full CV – or call us now. Whilst this position may not be of interest to you or suit your skills and experience, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of the team at Willcox Matthews to understand how we can support you.
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We take your application seriously and we make every effort to respond to all applicants.
Candidates must be eligible to work and live in the UK