Title:  Buyer

ROLE PURPOSE

As a member of the Procurement team, your role as Buyer is to manage the procurement of goods and services to achieve the required cost, quality and delivery.

This includes establishing the procurement strategy, sourcing appropriate suppliers (technical and commercial assessment), negotiating contracts, placing purchase orders and managing supplier relationships and performance, to meet business needs.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Procurement Strategy:
  • Develop procurement strategy that aligns with the business strategy and enables Sales to win work.
  • Conduct market analysis to identify trends (e.g. alternative manufacturing methods), new sources of supply, opportunities, risks, etc and use foresight to develop procurement strategy which delivers a competitive advantage to Primetals Technologies.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM):
  • Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships.
  • Monitor supplier performance, proactively resolving technical, commercial and supply issues and drive continuous improvement to strengthen a flexible and “value add” supply base.
  • Ensure Primetals Technologies benefits from supplier knowledge, ideas and innovations.
• Sourcing and Negotiating:
  • Identify, evaluate and select suppliers based on cost, quality and delivery.
  • Undertake effective and timely sourcing processes.
  • Negotiate with suppliers, utilising appropriate commercial tactics to deliver optimum results.
  • Evaluate and select suppliers based on total cost of ownership and risk.
  • Place and manage purchase orders.
• Stakeholder Management
  • Proactively engage all necessary stakeholders (internal and external) to ensure that they have the required service / information from procurement to perform their role effectively.
  • Work closely with colleagues in Sales (customer specific requirements), Expediting and Supplier Quality Management to identify and select appropriate suppliers.
  • Work closely with colleagues in Sales to ensure the latest market trends on cost and delivery are understood and reflected in customer quotes / discussions with the customer.  Respond appropriately to customer feedback as it relates to the cost, quality and on time delivery of the goods supplied.
  • Work closely with colleagues in Engineering and suppliers on new product development, ensuring manufacturability, quality and cost are balanced.
  • Provide guidance and direction to the Assistant Buyers, to ensure a full end to end and value add procurement service (strategic and operational) is delivered to the business.
  • Translate complex technical requirements into clear supplier expectations.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

• Strategic Agility  -  ability to develop and implement tailored procurement strategies which deliver a competitive advantage in technically demanding supply chains. 
• Manufacturing  -  experience of manufacturing processes and workshops to assess and judge capability and feasibility of suppliers and their proposals and programmes.
• Quality Management  -  able to assess the suitability of suppliers for the required goods, utilising Primetals Technologies guidelines and embedding the required quality standards in supplier RFQ’s and contracts.
• Tendering  -  experience in undertaking tendering processes on a structured, transparent and managed basis.
• Negotiating  -  experience of undertaking a range of commercial negotiations with suppliers and delivering results.
• Planning & Organising  -  demonstrate a structured, organised and methodical way of working, to be able to develop and implement procurement plans.
• Attention to Detail  -  a meticulous attention to detail is required – errors cost money.
• Communication  -  a clear and concise (written and verbal) communicator who can distil their work into the key messages for management.
• IT & Procurement Technology  -  a proficient user of all Microsoft Office packages.  Experience of SAP is highly desirable.
• Problem Solving  -  take initiative to resolve any procurement and supply issues, to ensure on time delivery.

Desirable:

• Contract & Legal Knowledge  -  ability to negotiate contractual terms and conditions with suppliers, and understand implications of customer terms to minimise commercial risk.
• Engineering  -  able to read engineering drawings with confidence, discuss tolerances, materials and methods with suppliers and colleagues.
• Decision Making & Judgement  -  be prepared to make fast paced professional judgements, sometimes in the basis of imperfect information.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Several years of procurement experience, with a proven track record of delivery.  Preferably including the procurement of manufactured engineering parts.

Desirable:

• Experience working abroad or with different cultures an advantage.

•  A background in engineering, manufacturing or quality, with hands on experience.

EDUCATIONAL / PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Formal qualifications in Procurement (CIPS), Engineering, Manufacturing or Quality an advantage.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Full and valid UK driving license.
• Prepared to travel nationally / internationally, sometimes at short notice.

PRIMETALS VALUES

Primetals believes everyone should own responsibility to contribute and make a difference in the Company.  The Primetals Values Framework established leadership behaviours for all professional roles, forming the basis of creating winning teams, building a successful Company and provide for a great working environment.

The below is a summary of the minimum requirements for the role

Take Ownership 

• Sees how money is made in our business and works to contribute.
• Works to improve customer satisfaction.
• Makes suggestions for improvement and acts on it.

Work Together

• Actively helps others and responds to their business needs to build strong working relationships.
• Asks questions, tests assumptions and openly discuss issues.
• Shares information with others, acts truthfully and transparently.

Deliver Solutions

• Improves existing processes and approaches within own area of responsibility.
• Focuses on achieving strong results prioritizing demands and exploits opportunities to exceed goals.
• Keeps commitments.