Category Buyer

Job Title: Category Buyer
Department: Procurement
Reports to: Procurement Manager
Location: Greenford, London (Global HQ)

About Brompton

About the role
We are seeking a highly experienced Category Buyer – Mechanical Components to join our Procurement team. The successful candidate will bring strong manufacturing procurement expertise and in-depth knowledge of sourcing mechanical components such as tubes, plates, forged, cast and extruded parts, as well as plastic injection moulded components.

This is a critical role within the Procurement function, responsible for supporting the Procurement Manager in delivering robust category strategies, supplier development, and commercial leadership across key mechanical component categories.

The role will play a key part in shaping Brompton’s mechanical component supply base and supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) programmes. Working closely with Engineering, Quality, and Project Management teams, the successful candidate will lead sourcing activities to ensure optimal supplier selection, cost competitiveness, and supply reliability.

The vision for this role is to deliver sustainable value to Brompton through strategic sourcing, strong supplier partnerships, cost optimisation initiatives, and a resilient global supply base. 
     
Key responsibilities    

Category Strategy & Supply Base Development

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve category strategies to deliver cost competitiveness, supply security, and innovation.

• Build and maintain a resilient and competitive global supply base by identifying, evaluating, and onboarding new suppliers.

• Lead sourcing initiatives for key mechanical component categories including fabricated, forged, cast, extruded and injection moulded parts.

Commercial Leadership

• Lead complex commercial negotiations covering pricing structures, contractual terms, payment conditions, and delivery performance.

• Manage supplier contracts and ensure compliance with agreed commercial and operational terms.

• Monitor market trends, cost drivers, and supplier capabilities to support informed sourcing decisions.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead sourcing activities for NPI projects, ensuring suppliers and manufacturing processes are aligned with product development timelines.

• Collaborate closely with Project Management, Design, and Quality teams to ensure manufacturability, cost competitiveness, and supply reliability.

• Drive early supplier involvement to support design optimisation and cost-effective product development.

Supplier Performance & Development

• Develop strong supplier relationships and manage supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.

• Conduct supplier performance reviews and lead improvement initiatives where required.

• Carry out supplier visits and business reviews to strengthen collaboration and identify development opportunities.

Cost Optimisation & Value Engineering

• Identify and deliver cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, resourcing, and value engineering.

• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles when evaluating sourcing options.

• Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement across the supply base.

Supply Chain Risk & Resilience

• Proactively assess supply chain risks including capacity constraints, financial stability, and geopolitical factors.

• Develop mitigation strategies including dual sourcing, supplier development, and long-term supply agreements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key procurement representative in cross-functional meetings and projects.

• Build strong working relationships with stakeholders across Project Management, Engineering, Quality, Production, and Planning.

• Represent the Category Buying team in strategic and operational discussions.

Skills

• Strong commercial and negotiation skills with a proven ability to deliver measurable value.

• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes including fabrication, forging, casting, extrusion, and plastic injection moulding.

• Strong analytical and numerical capability with the ability to evaluate cost drivers and commercial opportunities.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Self-driven, proactive, and able to operate independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.

What you'll bring

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

• Relevant experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience sourcing mechanical or engineered components.

• Experience within the bicycle industry or similar mechanical engineering sectors would be advantageous.

• Experience with international supplier sourcing and development.

• Experience working within cross-functional product development environments.

• CIPS qualification or working towards it

Degree qualified or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as:

• Mechanical Engineering

• Supply Chain Management

• Business Management

• or a related field.

Benefits at Brompton:

Brompton offers you an excellent working environment with enthusiastic colleagues who get along, communicate and co-operate well with each other. The working climate is informal, but we work hard.

Next to good terms of employment, Brompton offers you the opportunity to work in a responsible and challenging job within a dynamic, international and ambitious environment. We are all proud to be part of Brompton Bicycle Ltd; we all share the same passion and dedication to the company and the product, despite any differences in cultural backgrounds and skills.

• 9 Day Fortnight – This is a flexible working pattern which individuals can opt in for where an employee works their contractual hours across 9 days instead of 10 days. (i.e. 80 hours across 9 days instead of 10 days). This mean the individual would work an additional hour across Monday to Thursday (across the 2 week period) to gain their Friday off.

• Annual Leave – 25 days annual leave, plus all UK bank holidays, prorated

• Competitive Salary – Plus workplace pension scheme and profit share bonus.

• Brompton Discount - Get ready to bike in style, as all employee’s receive up to 60% off their very own bike and accessories, plus there are discounts for your friends and family too.

• Staff Loan Bike – All employees are eligible to receive a Brompton Bicycle which they can use free of charge for up to 3 months

• Free Breakfast – Unlimited, all-day access to an array of fruit and cereal

• Breakout Areas – Unwind on the mezzanine floor which contains a ping-pong, foosball and pool table and other games like darts and a giant Connect-4!

• Learning and Development - Access to free LinkedIn Learning and opportunity to devote some of your time at work to personal development. We value professional development and actively promote internal promotions and opportunities.

• Benefits - Workplace Pension Scheme, Flexible Working, Cycle to Work Scheme and other benefits.

• Mental Health – We provide access to a confidential EAP that offers counselling, resources and support for various mental health challenges.

• Paid Leave – We offer an enhanced Family, Paternity and Maternity leave pay.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Commitment

Regardless of age, disability, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, culture, educational background, parental status, neurodiversity or disability - whoever you are, if you’re passionate about your work, curious, relentless and customer-obsessed, we want to hear from you.

Our Values

We Take Pride - Quality is born in the details

We Build Community - A Brompton brings people together

We Are Human - Being ourselves create magic

We Are Curious - Inspiration is everywhere

We Bring Energy - Our movement and momentum are infectious