Senior Buyer

Senior Buyer – 12-month FTC

Hours:

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Location:

Snodland

Our client, a world-renowned manufacturer of innovative and sustainable solutions, is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer for a 12-month maternity cover contract. The role is responsible for leading a small purchasing team, delivering cost savings, managing SAP MRP/MM processes, sourcing engineering materials, and supporting maintenance and production activities.

Responsibilities:

• Day-to-day management of direct reports, including TMS, appraisals & PDPs.
• Assist in the implementation of a category management approach.
• Support with any site-specific requirements or group purchasing instructions as may be required from time to time.
• Manage the re-order points for spare parts, investigate and liaise with Engineering to ensure correct stock quantities are maintained of suitable spares.
• Manage consignment stocks, ensuring all settlements are carried out on a monthly cycle.
• Manage the creation of material master data in SAP for spare parts.
• Source non-stock engineering parts.
• Record all cost savings in a departmental spreadsheet for audit purposes.
• Ensure the SAP physical inventory checks are carried out daily and that 100% of inventory is counted within each fiscal year, as evidenced by (MIDO) in SAP. Monitor and recount high-value differences, investigating as necessary to ensure a high level of stock accuracy is maintained.
• Assist MRP Controller with any high-value or priority purchases.
• Ensure the central stores are compliant with Safety and Environmental rules and legislation, and that the operatives are fully trained and act at all times in a safe manner, ensuring safe systems of work and risk assessment are regularly completed.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with the key internal and external stakeholders to facilitate and develop cost-saving strategies across all Mill departments.
• Provide stores with cover for planned or unplanned machine shutdowns.
• Provide departmental cover as required.
• Participate when required in training programmes as part of the annual appraisal process.
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings.
• Accept additional education/training as deemed necessary, as a result of new equipment and/or changes in technology, in order to continue satisfactorily carrying out the role.
• When requested, to be available for meetings/projects/working away for short periods of time, which may include occasional overnight trips.
• Monitor and assess all Operations/procedures, and when required, assist in updating/improvements.

Person Specification:

• Extensive experience in a supervisory purchasing role, preferably within a manufacturing environment or a heavy engineering environment.
• Highly motivated and analytical with excellent purchasing experience.
• Strong management skills to lead a small team and gain support from all departmental managers for purchasing activities.
• Experience in using SAP with a sound knowledge of MRP in a relevant position.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply at level 4 or above mentality.
• Experienced negotiator with a proven track record of cost reduction initiatives.
• Category Management experience is preferred, but not essential.

On top of a competitive base salary, you will be eligible for a completion bonus, an enhanced company pension, generous holiday allowance, and a range of additional benefits, including full access to onsite facilities such as a gym and canteen.