Assistant Buyer - Indirect

Tech Connect Group; Warwick; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive company based in Warwick is seeking an Assistant Buyer to manage indirect spend and supplier relationships. The successful candidate will require strong communication skills and a proactive approach, handling diverse purchasing demands in a fast-paced environment. This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in a company with an annual indirect spend of around £20M.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in purchasing.
• Experience requiring initiative and decision-making.
• Strong communication skills in both verbal and written forms.

Responsibilities

• Manage indirect spend and supplier relationships.
• Determine when contracts need renewing and drive the process.
• Handle varied purchasing demands effectively.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Initiative

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Knowledge of Excel

Knowledge of Word

Knowledge of Outlook

Knowledge of Teams

Ambition to lead a team

Job description

Overview

Tech Connect Group has partnered with an international automotive manufacturing business in their search for an Assistant Buyer, based out of their Warwick site.

Key responsibilities

• Steering spend towards the preferred suppliers, managing the retendering of contracts at the right opportunity, and acting as a “go to” point for all types of indirect spend that keeps the sites running well.
• Understand the business requirements, identify suitable sources of supply for Indirect spend at manufacturing sites and central functions, and, where relevant, the Service Centres.
• The breadth of spend is vast, so there is an opportunity to own a “bucket” such as forklifts, workwear, or energy.
• Take a proactive approach for when contracts need renewing, deciding with the stakeholders if a tender or contract extension is needed and then driving it through.
• Support the business and the suppliers where a change is decided upon, such as a change of Workwear supplier.
• Support spot buys via existing suppliers or Amazon—anything from special safety footwear, a set of ladders, or hiring a crane.
• Be creative in addressing the random demands that are prevalent in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Validate and, if necessary, challenge the Indirect expenditure invoices; this can be anything from site cleaning, temporary building rentals, waste collections, diesel bills and much more.
• You will be someone who can handle a highly variable role in terms of spend requirements; Energy, forklifts, workwear, cleaning, security, gardening, office equipment and everything in between.
• The role provides the opportunity to be a key focal point in the smooth operation of the business, and as such, is highly rewarding. There is a huge opportunity to make a difference with around £20M being spent per year within our indirect services.

Key Skills & Experience

• Precious experience in Purchasing
• Precious work experience that requires initiative
• Confident verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook & Teams
• True ambiton to learn and drive towards being the lead of team in the future
• If you are a proactive, quick thinker who enjoys partnering with external suppliers and creating spending strategies, please apply