Buyer

This role is responsible for the procurement of materials, equipment, supplies, and general services in line with established purchasing policies, regulations, and procedures. The position ensures the timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods required to support smooth site operations. The role focuses on balancing operational needs with budgetary constraints while maintaining quality standards and supporting production targets. This includes coordinating with suppliers, managing purchase orders, and ensuring that all required materials and parts are available when needed to avoid operational disruptions.

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Review purchase requisitions and coordinate with requester on any clarifications.
• Identify and select a vendor to procure requisitioned commodities, and participating in direct negotiations on criteria such as price, quantity, quality and delivery dates.
• Write and distribute bid invitations or requests for proposals; receive and analyse bids, quotes, proposals, and award the contract.
• Maintaining purchasing system data for all aspects of the procurement function, including supplier delivery dates, material databases and subcontract special processing instructions.
• Communicate with vendors on status of outstanding orders as well as discrepancies with quality and quantity, initiate and manage the claim process.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, environmental, health and safety regulations.
• Work closely with other departments to support new product and process introduction, participate and provide expert opinion on build or buy, make or outsource decisions.
• Attend production meeting with operations team with timely, accurate information as to product status.
• Maintain a continuous improvement culture in line with the supply chain strategy.
• Hold regular supplier reviews with key suppliers to review supplier performance and implement corrective actions to facilitate improvements.
• Taking ownership and delivering on cost reduction projects across the business and working collaboratively with a number of departments.
• Generate departmental KPI’s for supply chain performance in line with site and corporate requirements.
• Building supplier relationships through site visits individually or as part of a team
• Any other duties deemed suitable by your line manager and as reasonably required by the business.

COMPETENCIES:

• Interpersonal effectiveness – Ability to build constructive and effective relationships at all levels, use diplomacy and tact.
• Negotiation skills – Ability to influence and convince people, ability to achieve win-win solutions.
• Active listening skills – Ask questions to identify client’s needs or expectations; take time to question and understand the needs of requestors.
• Business acumen – Strong knowledge of a market, customers, and competition. Understanding of the manufacturing processes, financial flows of an organization.
• Team player – Be able to work as a team.
• Organisational skills – Ability to multi-task and prioritize daily workload. Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Perseverance – Pursue everything with energy, drive and a need to finish; give up seldom even in the face of resistance or setbacks. Proactive attitude and ability to act on own initiative.

EDUCATION:

• A Level education (or equivalent)
• CIPS qualified or working towards (desirable)
• Any other supply chain qualifications (APICs, CILT)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience in a purchasing/buying role in a manufacturing industry is essential
• Knowledge and experience of ERP systems is essential
• Knowledge and experience of liaising with Tier 2 subcontract suppliers is desirable
• Knowledge and experience of castings suppliers desirable
• Knowledge of purchasing process, domestic and foreign supply market, purchasing and delivery terms and conditions
• General knowledge of budgeting, inventory and cost-management
• Knowledge of materials, products, and the commodity market
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and analysing specifications and bids

SKILLS

• Have a keen eye for detail, be able to multi-task and stay calm under pressure.
• Requires thoroughness, resourcefulness, adaptability to shifting priorities/deadlines and multi-tasking.
• Have strong interpersonal and good communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels.
• Possess excellent organisation and time management skills.
• Strong IT Skills, being proficient in Microsoft Office
• Must be able to work as part of a team, but also be able to work using your own initiative whilst being able to work under pressure
• A self-motivated approach and a proactive attitude
• Must be able to interact across all disciplines within the organization and must possess the ability to interface effectively with all levels of management.

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