Buyer (Direct Packaging)

Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland; East Leake; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland is seeking a Buyer (Direct – Packaging) to lead the packaging category within the Procurement team. The role focuses on developing the portfolio, evaluating spend and supplier landscapes, and driving value and sustainability across Saint-Gobain businesses.

The successful candidate will manage supplier relationships, lead tender activities and work with multiple sites and suppliers to ensure compliant packaging solutions while delivering cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement with packaging or related category.
• Strong commercial awareness with ability to analyse spend and identify opportunities.
• Understanding of packaging regulations, sustainability considerations and CSR.
• Confident communicator to build relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.
• MCIPS or studying towards MCIPS desirable.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the packaging category, understand portfolio and spend landscape, identify opportunities to improve value.
• Lead on suppliers' adherence to packaging legislation and regulation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand packaging requirements and leverage collective spend.
• Develop and manage supplier relationships, visit suppliers and sites to assess operations and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead and support tender and sourcing activities with stakeholders to meet business needs.
• Monitor spend, contracts and supplier performance considering cost, quality, supply, sustainability and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Packaging procurement

Spend analysis

Supplier relationship management

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

MCIPS qualification

Job description

At Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland, we’re looking for a Buyer (Direct – Packaging) to join our Procurement team and play a key role in managing and developing our packaging category across the Saint-Gobain businesses.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced procurement professional with packaging experience to take ownership of a diverse category, working with stakeholders across our businesses and a range of suppliers to drive value, sustainability and commercial performance. You’ll have the opportunity to look across our collective packaging spend, identify opportunities to work more collaboratively and help us make sure we’re getting the best value from our supplier relationships.

The role will be based at our East Leake site, with 3 days per week onsite and regular travel to Saint-Gobain sites and suppliers.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working in procurement, ideally with at least 1 year of experience within packaging or a related category.
• Good commercial awareness, with the ability to analyse spend, identify opportunities and understand the wider business impact of procurement decisions.
• An understanding of packaging regulations, legislation and sustainability/CSR considerations, with the ability to interpret requirements and translate them into practical actions.
• A confident communicator who can build effective relationships with suppliers and stakeholders across different Saint-Gobain businesses, from plant and operational teams through to senior stakeholders.
• A self-starter with a practical, proactive approach who is comfortable managing priorities, influencing others and getting things done.

MCIPS qualification (or equivalent) is desirable. If you do not currently hold MCIPS, we would expect you to be studying towards the qualification if successful in your application.

What you will be doing:

• Take ownership of the packaging category, developing an understanding of the portfolio, spend and current supplier landscape and identifying opportunities to improve value.
• Take the procurement lead on our suppliers adherence to Packaging legislation and regulation.
• Work closely with stakeholders across Saint-Gobain businesses to understand their packaging requirements and identify opportunities to leverage collective spend and improve procurement efficiencies.
• Develop and manage supplier relationships, including visiting suppliers and Saint-Gobain sites to understand operations, how packaging is being used and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead and support tender and sourcing activity, working with stakeholders to understand business requirements, facilitate the process and implement changes effectively.
• Monitor and manage spend, contracts and supplier performance while considering cost, quality, supply, sustainability and regulatory requirements.

Are Saint-Gobain and our businesses inclusive employers?

Saint-Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, following our purpose of ‘Making the World a Better Home’. We play a part in improving daily life through high-performance solutions. From wherever you are, let your unique personality and our values guide you every day to invent a more sustainable world.

We understand that a diverse workplace is not only a more enjoyable place to be, but also facilitates better decision making and innovation. So, whoever you are, and whichever Saint-Gobain business you join, you can be sure of a warm welcome with us.

And what about flexibility?

At Saint-Gobain, we’re always open to new ways of working. Everyone has different needs and commitments. We’ll happily discuss any need you might have for this role. Whilst we can’t promise to meet every request when we’re recruiting, we do promise to listen.

If you match our criteria, we will be in touch to discuss your experience and more about you as a person. We look forward to hearing from you!