Buyer

Avantor; Harborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading laboratory services provider is seeking a Purchasing Assistant to manage the procurement process at a key customer site in Cambridge. The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills, clear communication abilities, and experience with the COUPA platform. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits in a modern environment focused on professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Industry-leading private healthcare

Dental scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in customer service with a collaborative approach.
• Ability to communicate clearly in writing and speech.
• Capability to resolve complex queries swiftly.
• Flexible in managing multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Manage the buying process from start to finish.
• Resolve or escalate procurement-related queries.
• Liaise with client’s procurement and budget holders.
• Maintain trackers for laboratory equipment demand.
• Procure specialist products using AZ’s COUPA platform.

Skills

Excellent customer service focus

Clear communication skills

Problem-solving capability

Good time-management skills

Tools

COUPA platform

Job description

The Opportunity:

Purchasing role – order placement, pricing updates/comparisons, invoice reconciliation and responding to customer queries.

Avantor Services offers a broad variety of on-site Laboratory support services for major pharmaceutical companies and works collaboratively with the client to provide resources to deliver core scientific activities.

We are looking for a Purchasing Assistant to support us with all buying activities, based at one of our key customer sites in Cambridge.

What you'll do on a day to day basis:

• Manage the buying process from start to finish, from confirmation of the client’s requirements through to delivery and completion while providing regular updates to key stakeholders.
• Resolve or escalate complex queries from stakeholders or vendors relating to the procurement process and project delivery alignments.
• Liaise with our client’s procurement teams and budget holders.
• Collate, update and maintain trackers for all laboratory equipment demand, as well as trackers for on-going projects and reporting.
• Liaise with AZ procurement and external suppliers to leverage best price and proactively manage consignment stock.
• Procurement of specialist products using AZ’s COUPA platform.
• Broad understanding of products and keeping up to date with external benchmarks.
• Regular reviews with customers to ensure right products are stocked.
• Proactively identify and support operational efficiencies by implementing process improvements.

What you'll need to be successful:

• Proven excellent customer service focus and ability to work collaboratively.
• Clear and concise written and spoken communication skills along with good presentation skills.
• Good problem-solving capability and confidence to react promptly to deliver the best service possible.
• Good time-management skills, ability to be flexible and handle multiple responsibilities and tasks on a regular basis.

What we offer:

Here at Avantor, we focus on you. Along with a competitive salary, bonus and other benefits such as industry-leading private healthcare and dental scheme, we will offer you a modern environment where you can feel at ease while gaining practical experience, expanding your knowledge, and focusing on your personal growth.

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and a federal contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail].