Operational Buyer

The main purpose of this role is to manage a commodity of suppliers, ensuring material delivery and performance is at the level required by the business, as well as working with the wider supplier chain on the strategic development of the supply portfolio.

Job Description

This is a role requiring a dynamic and energetic person with experience in purchasing within a manufacturing environment. The role operates in a fast paced Operations environment and the person shall be capable of being flexible in managing and prioritising a number of issues.

The main purpose of this role is to ensure supply of materials of known stocked items and of the suppliers within distinct commodity groups driving the performance the required levels in support of overall business objectives. Suppliers are measured using On Time and In Full (OTIF). The usual purchasing goals apply (right: part, quantity, quality, time & cost).

Management of actions driven out by operations needs and risks identified by all levels within the supply chain as a whole providing production materials and services operating within an MRP environment.

This is a tactical level role, separate to the Strategic Sourcing team whilst communicating well on the needs of the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

Materials

• Raising purchase orders, managing through to delivery – expediting parts where needed
  
  
• Analysis of supply failures and corrective action
  
  
• Be able to take responsibility for actions and keep hold of issues whilst delivering the solution to all root causes - not quick fixes.
  
  
• Identify risk within the supply chain and manage the appropriate plans to address these in line with
  
  
• Recognised tools and standards
  
  
• Manage and maintain the purchase orders working within the logistics team to ensure that the suppliers
  
  
• OTIF is not impact when orders are split or pulled in.
  
  
• Ensure that business system has correct MRP parameters
  
  
• Inventory and stock turns are key to our business; this will be an important part of the buyers’ role in
  
  
• Working with the supplier, operations and strategic buying in ensuring the correct balance of needs and cost.
  
  Suppliers
  
  
• Contact Suppliers to manage orders and support fluctuations in production demand ensuring the right parts flow through for production – driving down work order release impacts.
  
  
• Perform business and performance reviews of suppliers
  
  
• Take responsibility for a number of known ‘problem suppliers’, review history and take ownership for definition and deliver of actions to achieve a durable solution and recovery of performance.
  
  
• Demonstrate visibility with a detailed action and timescale plan
  
  
• Build and maintain relationships with the suppliers
  
  Communication & Teamwork
  
  
• Representation to suppliers, and suppliers to our client
  
  
• Communicate clearly with the internal customers managing their expectation
  
  
• Communicate well as part of a team ensuring queries are resolved quickly.
  
  
• Supporting colleagues and other duties as required
  
  
• Understanding when to call on Strategic Sourcing support for problems.
  
  
• Ensuring queries are resolved quickly for operations
  
  Continuous Improvement
  
  
• Using principles of root cause analysis to support the implementation of corrective actions.
  
  
• Contribute to and lead key improvement projects related to systems and processes in use both within the department and cross-functionally.
  
  
• Administration – maintaining electronic and physical filing, 5S and time management
  
  Qualifications/Skills/Experience
  
  Essential
  
  

• Strong understanding of an MRP system and the supply chain relevant parameters influencing and driving the operational excellence of the business.
  
  
• Previous purchasing experience for machined parts or electrical in a manufacturing environment, with preference for Aerospace/medium batch high variety
  
  
• Previous proven experience expediting and driving improvements to OTIF
  
  
• Confident and professional manner in dealing with suppliers and internal customers
  
  
• Task performance driven and tenacious
  
  
• A strong individual capable of working on own initiative whilst being a good team player
  
  
• Excellent PC skills and user knowledge of Microsoft Office – excel skills should be very strong: Vlookup, pivot
  
  
• Ability to drive and travel to suppliers world wide
  
  Desirable
  
  
• Understanding and experience of export regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
  
  
• Business/Commercial audit experience
  
  
• Experience in a Lean manufacturing / Supply Chain
  
  
• Best practice – CIPS
  
  
• Qualification in engineering or business discipline (ideally degree qualified) or experience in working in a technical environment.
  
  
• Continuous improvement and problem solving experience