Senior Buyer

Role purpose and primary objective:

To manage the procurement of materials, goods and services for the business; ensuring that you are optimising the cost, cash, quality and service. You’ll drive added value through sourcing strategically, value engineering, innovation delivery and risk management.

Core accountabilities:

Purchasing function

• Ensure supplier relationships are stable and sustainable, building and maintaining good communication levels and procure product effectively, including travel to supplier locations (UK, Europe and China).
• Responsible for the accurate administration of the function, including:
  • Documentation management
  • Ordering via MRP and demand management
  • Pricing management, trade agreements and cost variance analysis
  • Global logistics, imports and customs
  • Warehousing suitability and stock control management
  • Scheduling payments and prepayments.
• Contact with transport providers and intermediaries, organising global logistics.
• Liaising and managing the relationships directly with the supply base.
• Constant focus on costs TCO (total cost of ownership) and reduction opportunities.
• Close liaison with planning and production to ensure customer demands are clear and met via the correct service levels.
• Close collaboration with R&D to assist in identifying potential new/alternative products and profiling new suppliers. Scheduling NPI activities around product launch timeframes.

Working with the Procurement team and generate effective team working

• Work to appraisal objectives to measure output.
• Teamwork and support on team procurement activities, with colleagues to optimise overall performance of the Procurement team.
• Provide training, ongoing and ad hoc, to improve employee knowledge.

Attain and improve the quality-of-service standards expected of the company

• Identify and develop key suppliers to improve relationships/partnerships and mitigate potential future risk.
• Monitor regular suppliers and transport providers to assess performance and price competitiveness, introduce metrics where necessary.
• Keeping up to date on Government policy changes on imports and international regulatory authorities, communicating to the business where required.
• Manage and report SLOBs (slow moving and obsolete stock).
• Analyse buying trends to identify areas for improvement and/or cost saving.
• Develop and manage ESG responsibilities within the supply chain.

Describe the most complex/challenging aspects of the role

Achieving desired company service levels to customers via meeting demand satisfactorily versus suppliers’ ability.

Knowledge, skills and experience required (Essentials and Desirables):

• A background in procurement/purchasing (E)
• Forward thinking problem solving (E)
• Strong attention to detail and proven skills relating to accuracy (E)
• Ability to work under pressure (E)
• Ability to work under own initiative (E)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (E)
• Strong organisation skills and record keeping (E)
• Previous use of ERP systems – Production (AX/D365/SAP) & Sales CRM computer systems (E)
• Willingness to travel in the UK and Overseas to meet suppliers on a regular basis(D)
• Formal CIPS qualifications or equivalent (D)
• Management experience (D)
• A background in the supply of construction products (D)

Benefits

• Company pension
• Life assurance
• Sick pay
• Employee Assistance and wellness programmes
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Employee store discounts

Titon is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Titon for who you are, no matter where you come from or what you look like. Our workplace is for everyone and the more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background.

All roles within Titon require the postholder to demonstrate our essential behaviours:

• Feed the Positive – ask questions to understand ‘why’, find the positive and talk about it and be approachable.
• Learn and Grow – show a willingness to learn, seek feedback to improve and learn from mistakes.
• Show you Care– offer help without being asked, be a willing listener, promote the ideas of others.
• Find a Way – Identify problems, challenge the usual ways and focus on solutions.
• Get Stuff Done –  spot problems before they arise, respond quickly, take action and make progress.

To apply, ensure you meet the qualifying questions and submit your CV and a Covering Letter to hr@titon.co.uk.