A new position for a Junior Buyer has become available at our client based in Northampton for a company who have a solid and strong procurement division and have fantastic growth plans across the business. 

Job Role
You will need to utilise your expertise and understanding of the products in their category in order to improve category rationalisation, drive sales, challenge specifications, improve marketing of ranges and provide solutions and innovation for our customers.

Understand processes and costs involved with the manufacturing, raw materials, warehousing and distribution through to end use, category trends, seasonality's, volumes, reveal and rebates.

Requirements
•    Work closely with the Category Manager to agree buying strategy for the Categories in their control, to help drive attainment of shared cross-functional targets and to ensure agreed policy is implemented
•    Deliver category sales and profit growth against agreed targets
•    Accountable for working capital relating to categories, including inventory investment, stock on water and creditor days
•    Develop and deliver category specific business plans
•    Deliver new product development and innovation as tasked within category business plan
•    Maintain control of the supplier base, working with the Sales teams to identify customers’ purchasing patterns and subsequently identify an appropriate supplier sourcing framework by product, together with price and delivery negotiations in order to maintain competitor advantage
•    Understand market and customer trends, and ensure that product procurement and placement reflects these trends accurately and ahead of time. Input into the businesses strategy in relation to competitor threats
•    Achieve/exceed target procurement prices, rebates and marketing support whilst constantly dealing with suppliers in an upfront, honest and mutually beneficial manner. 
•    Be able to conduct professional presentations internally and externally giving the category view and compelling offer for our products, expertise and service
•    Ensure that all customer enquiries and tenders including the maximum amount of additional price support receive timely responses, including all required information, in order to secure the business
•    Assist with and help resolve any pricing or invoice queries or problems that might arise on a day-to-day basis
•    Ensure continuity of product supply at an acceptable quality level. Working with suppliers and supply chain colleagues to rectify any subsequently identified issues
•    Work closely with sales and supply chain to ensure that the end-to-end supply chain costs do not exceed any procurement advantage achieved during price and delivery negotiations
•    Through the Quality Control function, ensure that the Group’s Supplier Ethics and Trading policies and practices are monitored and maintained such that all suppliers comply with end-to-end best practice and the integrity of the Group’s policies are retained
•    Build strong relationships with suppliers and hold regular reviews taking into account scorecard performance
•    Provide business leadership and technical competency to help the transformation of current Purchasing practices within areas of scope
•    Work with the Supply Chain function to reinforce sales channels’ propositions that are designed to leverage sales via improvements in fulfilment
•    Manage relationships critical to the success of the overall Purchasing strategy
•    Represent the category channels’ operational needs to Senior Management in capability planning sessions to ensure that they receive flawless products and service
•    Develop best-in-class Purchasing models
•    Meet category margin targets. This includes strategy and tactics for new product range launches, innovation and new product development
•    Increase monetary contribution and overall percentage contribution of rebates and reveal
•    Drive sales and profit growth through collaboration with sales function and customers
•    Complete all enquiries and tenders within the required timeframe
•    Actively establish and drive metrics and measures that lead to cost improvements and clear goals
•    Achieve operational quality, customer service and operating expense targets and business development objectives
•    Meet and visit suppliers regularly
•    Attend exhibitions where appropriate
•    Operate as an acknowledged functional expert for identified individuals to build a strong team

Personal Profile 
•    Experience in a fast paced, multi-site/multi-pick, trading environment is beneficial
•    Good knowledge and understanding of purchasing principles and disciplines
•    Financially and numerically astute and aware
•    Evidence of working closely and effectively with other functions especially Supply Chain, Quality, Sales and Customers
•    Customer focussed, experienced at presenting to influence
•    Good relationship builder – respected by suppliers, peers and senior managers alike, able to balance the requirements of different stakeholders
•    Highly organised and results driven, able to work at pace
•    Assertive style, enthusiasm and passion for the job
•    Good planning skills, market awareness and the ability to spot and take advantage of cultural and seasonal trends
•    Open to new ideas and able to bring new ideas to the business

Ref Code: CV41406

Due to a high volume of responses, we cannot reply to each application individually. If you have not had a response within one week, we are sorry to say your application has not been successful on this occasion.