Buyer - FTC

Henry Schein; Gillingham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare solutions provider in Gillingham is seeking a Buyer for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The successful candidate will manage inventory and procurement, ensuring high quality for customers while optimizing costs. Key responsibilities include negotiating with suppliers and controlling inventory levels. A strong background in procurement and communication skills are essential. The role offers a competitive salary, 25 days holiday, and flexible working culture.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Life Insurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Subsidised gym membership

Health & Wellbeing Apps

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in a wholesale/distribution of FMCG procurement background.
• Experience managing a range of suppliers and products.
• Knowledge of the dental and healthcare sectors is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Manage customer back orders by working with Purchasing Assistants.
• Negotiate and monitor vendor rebates to ensure acrrual decisions.
• Control inventory levels and ensure smooth delivery of product.

Skills

Detail oriented

Negotiation

Process improvement

Communication

Autonomous working

Education

Good standard of secondary education to A-Level or equivalent

Purchasing, Supply Chain or Logistics Qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

This role is responsible for inventory management practices at Henry Schein UK, ensuring high quality for our customers whilst providing organisational profitability. The role holder will be involved in the management of our stocked items and the procurement and replenishment of products. The role sits within a busy team, and is supported by a team of Purchasing Assistants and works alongside other buying professionals. The role holder must be highly detail orientated, with a track record of creating cost savings and process innovation. The demands of the position are fast paced, and although supported by a team, the role holder must be able to work autonomously to effectively support our wider supply chain.

Job Title

Buyer – Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Department

UK Purchasing & Inventory Management

Reports To

Purchasing Manager

Location

Gillingham

Job Responsibilities

The role holder will be expected to be responsible for the following:

• Maintain Fill Rate for Stocked lines at or above set goal of 98+% by ensuring effective replenishment through consistent open order book management
• Manage customer back orders by working in conjunction with Purchasing Assistants to correct supply chain on advance notification of a potential issue, continuing the resolution if the product does back order. At all times ensuring good quality communication occurs within the business to maximise customer service.
• Maintain E3 parameters to ensure cost effective placement of orders on a daily basis to meet service and profit requirements
• Attain Key Metrics as defined by the department lead related to E3 and order book maintenance
• Actively seek best pricing through negotiation, market awareness and price list management
• Negotiate and monitor vendor rebates to ensure correct accrual decisions are made and rebates maximised without compromising working capital
• Ensure that all relevant supplier details and product price information is accurately maintained on the appropriate system, working closely with the IM Gatekeepers to ensure all price lists are updated on a timely basis enabling the correct forward buy investment to be made
• Ensure Freight costs are managed to optimise costs for the supply chain, working to best practice guidelines as defined by the department lead
• Control inventory levels through focused activity on new item management, overstock management and maintenance of E3 parameters to ensure inventory accuracy levels are attained and working capital maximised
• Work with the Operations team to ensure smooth delivery of product to shelf and timely resolution of queries
• Constantly review and suggest improvements to processes to bring efficiencies/cost savings to the Supply Chain
• Develop supplier relationships and introduce measurement tools to improve supplier performance
• Develop internal relationships, influencing key internal customers to promote professional purchasing principals across the business ensuring timely communication and problem resolution.
• Progress and achieve set objectives as defined by the Department Head on a yearly basis
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as required
• This role is extremely varied; therefore, the job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder will be required to participate in other duties as required by the business.

Job Skills & Experience Required

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following:

Qualifications

• Good standard of secondary education to A-Level or equivalent
• Purchasing, Supply Chain or Logistics Qualification desirable, but not required
• Accreditation on the Microsoft Office package suite desirable

Skill & Experience

• Experience in a wholesale/distribution of FMCG procurement background
• Experience managing a range of suppliers and products
• Knowledge of the dental and healthcare sectors preferrable
• Adept at managing multiple priorities in a time sensitive environment
• Demonstrable process improvement examples
• A good understanding of P&L accounts

Person Specification

We believe the type of person best suited to this role will be:

• Detail oriented with a preference for working to a high quality where technical expertise can be showcased
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment
• An authoritative, quick decision maker, who’s comfortable working to policies, procedures, and quality guidelines
• Methodical, accurate and thorough
• Able to remain sceptical to identify process improvements
• Comfortable working autonomously
• A persuasive communicator, capable of negotiating and influencing vendors and third parties

Benefits

• A competitive salary
• 25 days holiday a year, with ability to buy up to 5 days holiday each year
• Life Insurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Subsidised gym membership
• Access to Health & Wellbeing Apps
• Employee discounts
• A hybrid, flexible working culture

About Henry Schein

At Henry Schein, our mission is to provide innovative, integrated health care products and services; and to be trusted advisors and consultants to our customers - enabling them to deliver the best quality patient care and enhance their practice management efficiency and profitability.

We know that our Team Schein Members (TSMs) are integral to bringing our mission to life and our success has been built on the commitment of Team Schein, a highly motivated and diverse group of professionals who are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers. Every TSM shares a singular focus, fostering an environment that allows each of us to achieve our goals.

Henry Schein offers a diverse range of career opportunities, and we firmly believe that by fostering an environment built on ethics, open communications, mutual benefits, creativity, and recognition of the contributions of all TSMs—at all levels—we can help ensure that our best years are yet to come. As such, we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and our integrated approach to diversity and inclusion ensures success by cultivating our Culture, recruiting, and retaining diverse Talent, supporting our Marketplace, and continuing our commitment to Society.

As a business we are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities as a Corporate Citizen, and we’ve been recognised for nine consecutive years by Ethisphere as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies.

Henry Schein is committed to the principle of equal opportunities in employment in all spheres of its operation. Henry Schein UK Holdings strives to operate a policy of equal opportunity and not discriminate against any person gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law.