Our Engineering client based in Thetford has a brand new role for a Production / Programme Buyer within the Manufacturing division.
Overall Purpose of the Role:
Purchase goods, materials and commodities to ensure that production operational needs are met, taking into account price, quality, delivery lead times, supplier penalties and ensuring continuity of supply.
Key Responsibilities:
• Manage resources and activities required for the completion of high value purchase transactions, including sourcing, planning, and expediting purchase orders to support fulfilment of production schedules and spare parts orders.
• Build, maintain and manage supplier relationships, ensuring good communication is maintained between all parties
• Process purchase orders for capital and flow parts based on supply/demand situation: meeting customer’s demands, forecasting (ie. Build Plan), engineering inputs, and other system signals
• Evaluate and drive resolution on material quality, price, supply issues, delivery and invoice discrepancies.
• Propose and implement job related process improvements, participate in cross-functional projects.
• Support the purchasing function and other relevant departments and communicate any supply problems which may impact on business operations
• Act as an interface between suppliers and other relevant departments on purchasing processes and new projects and activities
• Monitor and advise on any issues which present risk or opportunity to the organisation
• Negotiate contracts, improve prices and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilising negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods
Skills and Attributes:
• Able to build and maintain effective and productive relationships with staff, stakeholders and suppliers
• Good communication, negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Analytical, numerically astute with strong demonstrated problem solving abilities
• Able to manage time effectively, prioritise tasks and achieve set targets
• Commercial and financial awareness with a full understanding of how failure impacts the production, manufacture and customer order fulfilment
• Able to work well under pressure and handle emergency and stressful situations
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy
• Familiarity with an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system would be beneficial
Qualifications and Experience Levels:
• Minimum 3 Years experience of working in a purchasing team preferably within an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Good knowledge of purchasing, negotiation, commercial understanding and cost breakdown
• Experience of working closely with suppliers, confident in running meeting with current and potential suppliers.
• Able to add value, reduce costs and input to business improvements
• An understanding of automotive processes and components would be advantageous
• Computer literate, with advanced Excel skills/abilities – SAP experience would be beneficial
• Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) or similar qualification or studying towards CIPS qualification would be beneficial but not essential