Production Project Buyer

Our Engineering client based in Thetford has a brand new role for a Production / Project 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