Buyer

Robinson Brothers Ltd is an independent, family-owned, company manufacturing organic chemicals for the Pharmaceutical, Agrochemical, Rubber, Polymer, Food &  Beverage and allied industries, operating from West Bromwich in the West Midlands.

We are recruiting for a Buyer to lead our purchasing operation. The role requires a strong understanding of chemical trade, supply chains, market dynamics, and a proven ability to manage supplier relationships to ensure timely, cost-effective, and quality material delivery.

Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills are required to interact within the company and with our suppliers. As the organisation goes through a significant period of change you will be a champion of improvement efficiencies within the department.

The key responsibilities of the role are:

• Source, select, and purchase chemicals and related materials based on technical specifications, quality standards, and delivery requirements.
• Manage the end-to-end procurement cycle from requisition to purchase order placement and delivery tracking.
• Collaborate with R&D, Production, Quality Control, and Logistics teams to forecast demand and ensure material availability to support production schedules.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to achieve the best value while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Develop and maintain strong, mutually beneficial supplier relationships.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and audits, focusing on quality, delivery, compliance, and cost-effectiveness
• Identify and qualify new, reliable suppliers to mitigate supply risks and foster competition.
• Lead the import functions to deliver accurate, timely, and compliant operations
• Compliance Declaration’s to HRMC

As well these skills you should have:
Education in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related technical field.
It is also desirable to have an in-depth understanding of the chemical industry and be CIPS qualified
Strong negotiation, analytical, and contract management skills are also required and proficiency in using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP/Oracle/Sage and MS Office suite
Proficient with Microsoft software and the ability to effectively manipulate Excel spreadsheets

The salary is £30,000-£35,000. Hours of work are 8.45 am – 4.30 pm, a 36.25 hour week. 25 days holiday (plus all UK bank holidays), free life assurance cover and generous paid sick scheme (both after a qualifying period). We also provide access to a stakeholder pension scheme, a voluntary employee medical cash benefit plan and an employee assistance programme.

Interviews will be conducted once suitable applicants are identified. Applications should be sent to [email protected] with a covering letter, explaining your interest and experience.