Purchasing Exective

Overall Purpose of the Role: Purchase goods, materials and services to ensure that the company operational needs are met, taking into account price, quality and delivery and to ensure continuity of supply.

Key Responsibilities:

General and Task Management

• Purchase goods, materials, components or services in line with specified cost, quality and delivery targets
• 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
• Monitor market trends, competitor strategies and market suppliers
• Provide analysis on costs, new and existing and review cost reduction activities
• Prepare reports and updates as and when required
• Work closely with others in the procurement function and review opportunities for continuous improvement and business improvements
• 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
• Prepare and raise purchase orders and order schedules
• Build, maintain and manage supplier relationships and keep up good communications
• Ensure that a professional and consistent approach is taken in relation to all supplier relationships
• Ensure compliance to company guidelines, purchasing policies and procedures during supplier negotiations and contracts award process
• Conduct research for new components and suppliers
• Contact suppliers to resolve price, quality, delivery or invoice issues

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:

• Relevant business/commercial or manufacturing/engineering certificates or diploma
• Previous experience of working in a purchasing team in manufacturing environment
• Good knowledge of purchasing, negotiation, commercial understanding and cost breakdown
• Experience of working closely with 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