Associate, Procurement

Smurfit Westrock; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging solutions provider located in York, UK, is looking for a Purchase Coordinator to manage ordering consumables and ensure compliance with purchasing policies. The ideal candidate should have at least three years of experience in purchasing, excellent negotiation skills, and an understanding of supply chain processes. This position involves collaborating with multiple departments, maintaining stock levels, and driving improvements in purchasing practices. Join a team committed to sustainable solutions and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in purchasing, ideally in manufacturing.
• Skills in statistical and trend analysis.
• Ability to develop relationships across departments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely ordering of production consumables.
• Raise and complete purchase orders according to procedures.
• Negotiate purchase orders to meet lead times.
• Record stock levels and maintain accurate ERP system.
• Support continuous improvement and cost-savings initiatives.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Negotiation skills

Problem-solving skills

Commercial acumen

Organisational skills

Education

Graduate calibre

MCIPS qualification

Job description

Overview

Reporting to the site General Manager, this role is responsible for ensuring that all production and non-production consumables and services are ordered in a timely manner with consideration to cost, quality and service, and for recording any non‑conforming activity to the supply base effectively and in compliance with Company Policies and Purchasing procedures. In addition to supporting sites, the divisional and group procurement initiatives the post holder will provide an efficient, cost‑effective service to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate production by ensuring consumables and services are ordered on time in full in accordance with production/forecasted planned consumption.
• Raise, issue and complete purchase orders in line with purchasing procedures.
• Negotiate/expedite purchase orders to ensure Smurfit WestRock receive goods within agreed lead times.
• Deal with invoice queries; root cause and review with suppliers/internal stakeholders to avoid recurring issues.
• Form part of a project team with Supplier Complaints; raise supplier claims where complaints are registered in QPulse and recover costs from suppliers, liaising with QA to close out.
• Ensure company ERP system is accurately maintained to ensure compliance with agreed sourcing strategies (supplier details, price tables, item codes, etc.).
• Work in a uniformed way with colleagues, developing a system whereby knowledge coverage is maintained during absence and maintain cover for absent colleagues.
• The Purchase Coordinator will offer practical, hands‑on, day‑to‑day training and support where needed including V2 training, PO placement, order call‑offs, escalations, and other daily routines.
• Record stock levels and purchase stock in a timely manner and ensure systems reflect orders placed and received.
• Develop and maintain a professional relationship with colleagues across all departments to improve the flow of communication and understanding within the business, liaising with relevant personnel in planning, production, customer services, sales and warehousing.
• Participate in stock takes as required.
• Support research and analysis for key business projects and developments within the business to support continuous improvement, cost‑savings initiatives and strategic change driven by customers, corporate or local site level.
• Generate, maintain, and issue a range of reports on stock, stock holdings and stock agreements and full analysis for specific customer accounts.
• Build relationships with suppliers, attend meetings where appropriate and assist the quality team for auditing supply base.
• Drive performance improvement in the purchasing function.
• Be proactive in the pursuit and participation of continuous improvement projects and operational excellence.
• Complete all necessary administrative tasks (electronic & paper).
• Learn and support the planning and material ordering function, providing cover at both sites.

Qualifications

Educational and Professional

• Graduate calibre
• Ideally working toward MCIPS qualification – or wishing to start

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• 3 years’ experience within purchasing and ideally within a manufacturing environment
• Awareness of materials and supply chain used in production
• Relevant experience of statistical analysis and trend analysis
• Project management and problem‑solving skills
• Interpersonal and negotiating skills
• Commercial acumen
• Organisational and priority management skills

About Smurfit Westrock

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fibre‑based packaging forward.