Buyer

This year, we proudly celebrate 100 years of Hammonds - a century of helping people create homes that feel beautifully organised and thoughtfully designed. From bedrooms and living spaces to home offices, we design and craft fitted furniture that transforms everyday rooms into functional, elegant spaces that bring order and harmony to the home. Our purpose remains simple: we create a well-ordered home, so our customers can live their lives better. 

Proudly a family business with 22 showrooms nationwide, we manufacture our bespoke furniture in Leicestershire, combining exciting design, innovative storage solutions and exceptional craftsmanship, before bringing each design to life with care and precision. Driven by passionate people and a clear ambition to be the UK’s leading fitted furniture specialists, we step into our second century building on our heritage - doing things properly, with intention and pride, The Hammonds Way. 

We are now looking for a commercially focused and proactive Buyer to take end-to-end ownership of assigned purchasing categories and secure the materials and components needed to manufacture and deliver Hammonds products. You will create measurable value through effective sourcing, commercial negotiation, supplier management, and demand-led inventory planning, while protecting quality, service, continuity of supply and working capital. 

Working across the full product lifecycle, you will partner closely with R&D, Stores, Manufacturing and the wider Supply Chain team to balance material availability, quality, cost and inventory against changing demand and operational priorities. This is an opportunity for someone who combines strong commercial judgement with disciplined planning, credible supplier relationships and a commitment to continuous improvement, while demonstrating our values of being Real, Committed and Creative. 

 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Take end-to-end commercial and operational ownership of assigned purchasing categories, developing clear category, sourcing and lifecycle plans. 
• Assess relevant supply markets, cost drivers, lead times, supplier dependencies and category risks to support balanced purchasing decisions. 
• Lead sourcing and quotation activity, identifying opportunities to reduce or avoid cost, and improve total value for the business. 
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, lead times, service requirements and supply arrangements with confidence, integrity and a whole-life value mindset. 
• Establish professional and appropriately challenging supplier relationships, agreeing to clear expectations for service, delivery, quality and commercial performance. 
• Monitor supplier performance, identify emerging concerns, and lead corrective action to protect business continuity. 
• Translate forecasts, production plans, supplier lead times and stock information into effective purchasing and replenishment decisions. 
• Maintain material availability while actively managing shortages, excess stock, inventory exposure, continuity risk, and working capital. 
• Coordinate purchasing requirements for new product introductions, product development, specification changes and end-of-life transitions. 
• Minimise financial and operational exposure from obsolete and obsolescent materials. 
• Provide clear, timely and evidence-based commercial and supply recommendations to R&D, Stores, Manufacturing and Supply Chain stakeholders. 
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, pricing, lead-time and planning information, using data to identify trends, risks and commercial opportunities. 
• Challenge inefficiency and avoidable risk, adopting relevant digital tools, automation and AI-enabled ways of working responsibly where they improve control, insight or efficiency. 

 

What you will bring: 

• Experience in a Buyer, Junior Buyer, Assistant Buyer, Materials Planner, Inventory Controller or comparable purchasing and supply-chain role. 
• Commercial confidence in sourcing, quotation analysis and negotiation, with the ability to evaluate total value across cost, quality, service, availability, inventory, and supply risk. 
• Experience managing suppliers and addressing delivery, quality, service or commercial underperformance constructively. 
• Strong planning and analytical skills, with the ability to use forecasts, production requirements, lead times and inventory information to make sound purchasing decisions. 
• An understanding of category management, supply-market dynamics, cost drivers and supplier dependencies. 
• CIPS qualification would be preferred but is not essential, OR demonstrable procurement and supply-chain experience that provides an equivalent level of commercial understanding.  
• The ability to identify and manage shortages, excess stock, continuity risks and obsolete or obsolescent inventory. 
• Clear and credible communication skills, with the confidence to present evidence-based recommendations and constructively challenge decisions. 
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build effective working relationships across R&D, Stores, Manufacturing and Supply Chain. 
• High standards of data accuracy, ownership and follow-through in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. 
• A continuous-improvement mindset and confidence adopting systems, automation and digital tools responsibly. 
• A professional approach aligned with our values of being Real, Committed and Creative. 

 

Your working hours/pattern will be: 

• Days: Monday to Friday 
• Working Hours: 8:00am – 16:00pm 
• Breaks: 30 mins unpaid 
• Total Weekly Working Hours: 37.5 
• Location: On site  
• Employment Type: Full time, permanent 

 

As part of the Hammonds family, you’ll enjoy: 

• Competitive salary - £37,000 to £38,750 dependent on CIPS Qualification  
• 25 days of annual leave 
• 1 extra day holiday per 5 years of service 
• Additional annual leave purchase scheme 
• Contributory pension scheme 
• Access to discounts through Perkbox 
• Generous Employee discount scheme 
• A supportive and creative team environment where your contributions make an impact 

 

Why Join Hammonds? 

At Hammonds, our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our values of being Real, Committed, and Creative, we work together to create exceptional experiences for both our customers and each other, taking pride in doing things properly, with intention and care. 

When you join Hammonds, you’ll become part of a supportive family business where your contribution is valued, your ideas are encouraged, and your development is supported. Whether you’re working directly with customers, crafting our fitted furniture, or supporting our teams behind the scenes, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and build a rewarding career with us. 

#You’reBetterOffAtHammonds 

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