Senior Buyer

SF Recruitment are currently working with a leading manufacturing business based in Worcestershire to recruit a Senior Buyer. A global business with ambitious expansion plans over the coming years, this is a fantastic time to join a rapidly expanding procurement function early on. 

As a Senior Buyer you will be responsible for supporting the continuing development of the supply chain function and facilitate procurement activities to achieve the company’s growth plan, with a specific focus on category procurement, namely direct materials, subcontract services, supplier relationship management and compliance. 

Supporting cross functionally to ensure the business has continuity of supply, mitigation of supply risks and manages key supplier spend effectively, by developing and implementing effective cost reduction strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and continuously improve the supply chain structure and processes to meet and exceed the business requirements to deliver supply chain excellence in line with business growth plans.
• Work collaboratively within team supporting, mentoring and coaching Buyers.
• Source materials, goods, and services effectively, ethically, and economically.
• Work closely & collaboratively with suppliers, promoting good working relationships through effective communication including meetings/visits to develop compliant, sustainable, and collaborative relationships.
• Deploy and uphold supply chain processes and practices that adhere to all regulatory, quality and company policy requirements including the maintenance of all documents including working closely with technical and quality teams on supplier compliance and performance structures.
• Focus on achieving supplier relationship management objectives and report on local metrics, particularly concentrating on supplier compliance, including OTIF and quality performance.
• Document, plan, market, and execute programs in accordance with procurement best practice.
• Regular market testing bench marking, upholding a strong awareness of new market trends and work with key suppliers to deliver value and innovation within the category.
• Sound knowledge of commercial and contract management trends in the respective category / supply markets to apply best practice to supplier engagement and management.
• Ability to draft & interrogate specifications and commercial agreements including strong negotiation skills to support negotiation of contracts with external third parties to meet business objectives.
• Work closely with quality and technical department to review and support compliance documents including the updating and maintaining of stock codes and supporting the technical teams with the generation of supply chain specifications.
• Assist in conducting and support internal and external supply chain audits in collaboration with quality assurance. Support with external supplier audits including liaising with suppliers to arrange said audits and any action follow ups.

Experience:

• 5+ years’ experience in a procurement/supply chain environment gained in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and supplier management capabilities
• Good business/commercial acumen
• Ability to cope with ambiguity and know when to take a pragmatic approach
• Experience of using MRP/ERP systems (Fusion/Syspro would be beneficial) and MS office suite including intermediate level of excel
• Excellent verbal and written communication including the ability to deal with all levels of stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Supplier compliance policies
• Category management experience – raw materials, special external processing of parts
• Stock control and inventory management skills