Advanced Purchasing Engineer

Dräger; Blyth; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Hybrid working available

Healthcare cash plan

Discounted shopping & leisure vouchers

Cycle to Work

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Dräger is recruiting for an Advanced Purchasing Engineer to support new product development projects in a multidisciplinary team. You will lead purchasing activities from research through to launch, scout suppliers, define costs, manage risk and drive supplier negotiations.

Role requires a degree, strong SCM knowledge, and familiarity with SAP; CIPS is desirable. Hybrid working and a collaborative environment at Blyth are offered.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified and experience in supply chain or purchasing in manufacturing.
• CIPS qualification is desirable.
• Experience in project-driven development environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Scout development partners and suppliers, investigate technologies, and onboard suppliers as needed.
• Support cost definition and budget planning with supplier quotations and data.
• Negotiate NDAs and development contracts with external partners.
• Manage supplier and material risk, and implement mitigation actions.
• Contribute to make-or-buy decisions with supplier pricing and external cost insights.
• Develop and implement project purchasing strategy and supplier evaluations.

Skills

Technical understanding

Supply chain management

Process control & optimisation

UK contract law

SAP

Self-motivated

Communication skills

Education

Degree qualified

CIPS qualification desirable

Tools

SAP

Job description

• Technical understanding

Who We Are

Every life is unique and so are you!

At Dräger we protect, support and rescue lives day in and day out. We are interested in you if you have the desire to work for an organisation that does something more, something that is truly worth working for.

As an international leader in medical and safety technology, we develop pioneering devices, software, services and solutions that people around the world trust. Wherever Dräger products are used, it's about the most important thing: it's about life.

About The Role

Representing the Procurement department, the role of the Advanced Purchasing Engineer (APE) is to support new product development projects. Working in multi functional project teams, the APE is responsible for all purchasing activities from research phase through to product launch.

Responsibilities

• Scouting of potential development partners and suppliers for core product & system elements: Working with R&D, investigate new technologies and determine potential sources to meet project requirements and business needs, conducting rapid plant assessments and performing supplier onboarding activities where needed.
• Support SCM team & Project Management with target cost definition and project budget planning: Utilising supplier quotations, historical supplier data and product / commodity knowledge.
• Implement and manage nondisclosure agreements and development contracts with external partners: Working with the Head of Legal, conduct contract negotiations and ensure supplier agreements are in place following company and project requirements.
• Supplier and material risk management: Working closely with the Reliability Engineer, identify supplier and material risks that impact quality, reliability and cost, introducing mitigation actions where needed.
• Support SCM team with make vs buy decisions: As a member of the SCM team, provide supplier pricing and external cost information to allow in-depth analysis.
• Develop and implement the project purchasing strategy: Working closely with the wider Procurement team, implement commodity strategies, obtain supplier quotations and proposals that meet product/project specifications, perform supplier evaluation & selection and conduct supplier negotiations.
• Drive innovation & collaboration with suppliers: In support of the project goals and targets, drive product innovation and enhancement, focusing on cost avoidance and design to cost savings, as well as increased supplier reliability.
• Investigate part feasibility for all purchased parts: Ensure DFM / DFA feedback from suppliers is taken into consideration and incorporated into the product design and supplier feasibility commitments are documented.
• Manage external tools & equipment during project phase: Order and manage external tools & equipment with suppliers including modifications, ensuring all required information is entered into the EED database.
• Supplier management and integration: Integrate and manage the chosen supplier(s) throughout the project ensuring actions & deliverables are completed against agreed plans, and materials are ordered and delivered on time to meet project needs (V&V, Approvals, Production Trials)
• Trigger Orders with suppliers to achieve launch demand: Set up all relevant purchasing data in SAP (ERP system) and trigger orders to meet FAI and launch requirements
• Align Logistic requirements with supplier: Working with Operations, agree and implement logistic concepts with suppliers ensuring Eco-efficient / returnable packaging is used wherever feasible.

Shared Responsibilities

All employees have a responsibility:

• to comply with the Integrated Management System (IMS) and minimise any impact on the environment whilst carrying out their duties.
• to ensure and promote safe working conditions for all employees, visitors and contractors by implementing, monitoring and complying with occupational health & safety provisions
• to embed our WeLEAD competencies – I build trust, I create value for the customer, I enable others, I provide direction, I embrace diversity, I deliver results

Reporting Relationships

Manager

• UK Purchasing | SQA manager

Size of team/environment

• Team consists of 10, in which there are 4 direct purchasing, 4 indirect purchasing and a total of 2 in the APE function. The team all work from the same office in the Blyth facility.

Education/Qualifications

Role Requirements

• Degree qualified
• CIPS qualified (desirable)

Related Experience

• Purchasing experience within a related manufacturing company
• Experience in structured project management process

Skills, Special Competencies

• Technical understanding
• Proven understanding in supply chain management and process control and optimisation
• Knowledge of UK contract law
• Working knowledge of SAP (desirable)
• Must be highly self-motivated
• Good communication skills, written and verbal

Dräger‘s Benefits

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with option to purchase up to 3 additional days
• Flexi scheme
• Hybrid working available
• Discounted critical illness cover, dental cover and partner life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Subsidised canteen
• Discounted shopping & leisure vouchers
• Cycle to Work
• Gym membership discounts – up to 25%
• Charity Giving scheme

We are open to flexible working and will consider a range of options, including adjustments to working hours, patterns, and location, depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific requirements, we encourage you to discuss them with us as part of the application process.

Dräger‘s dedication

At Dräger we have a clear vision, to be an organisation with a working environment that includes a diverse mix of talented people who want to come, stay and grow.

We ensure candidates with the required qualifications and experience will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

All are welcome to apply!

• Must hold full driving licence/passport as travel will be required

As an international leader in medical and safety technology, we develop pioneering devices, software, services and solutions that people around the world trust. Wherever Dräger products are used, it's about the most important thing: it's about life.