Buying Assistant

evo; Derby; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in business supplies distribution seeks a Buying Assistant based in Normanton. The role involves supporting procurement activities, managing suppliers, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. Candidates should possess strong interpersonal skills, a full UK driving license, and be adept at managing critical business data.

Benefits

Flexible working

Pension contributions

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

State-of-the-art IT equipment

Volunteer days

Qualifications

• Experience developing supplier relationships.
• Understanding full sourcing costs.
• Proven ability to deliver multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage key category-related suppliers and product pricing.
• Support Purchasing Manager in negotiations.
• Prepare reports and analyze service performance.

Skills

Time management

Professional communication

Numeracy skills

Education

Full UK Driving License

Job description

Division: Group Buying

Reports To: Purchasing Manager

Based: Normanton

Hours of Work: Full time in a permanent position

Role Specification

The role is based in Normanton. The Buying Assistant will be required to travel to other Group locations to work alongside colleagues and for external meetings as appropriate.

Role Objective

The Buying Assistant will work alongside the Purchasing Manager to support key buying and negotiating activities necessary for existing and new contract and non-contract business. The role will support and at times deliver relevant pricing fluctuation reporting. The role will assist the purchasing department to meet sustainable procurement objectives and ensure compliance on all products sold.

Responsibilities Will Include But Will Not Be Limited To

• Support the Purchasing Manager in managing key category-related suppliers/brands
• Assist the Purchasing team with key product pricing information
• Manage relevant reporting aspects for the purchasing team
• Work on key projects and monitor competitor activity, e.g., in Green/CSR offers
• Sourcing and negotiating competitive pricing for customer-specific products from vendors
• Source products to customer specifications at the right price to enable the business to quote and win tenders
• Request, record, and present findings from Product Pricing requests clearly for easy financial assessment
• Prepare information to assist in supplier management, including supplier assessment per responsible procurement policy, sales and purchase analysis, service performance, and terms improvement opportunities
• Manage customer bespoke product setup data requirements
• Investigate and resolve vendor & product specification queries where applicable
• Build strong relationships with key personnel and supplier contacts
• Prioritize activities that influence profitability significantly
• Manage product cost price changes and notify relevant teams
• Update foreign pricing with monthly exchange and freight rates
• Provide sales and purchasing reports for Q-Connect products

Person Specification

• Understanding of legal implications through legislative and regulatory knowledge
• Excellent time management skills to meet deadlines and manage workload
• Professional communication skills, capable of working with senior supplier contacts
• Ability to manage critical business data confidentially

Other Qualifications or Experience

• Experience developing supplier relationships
• Understanding of full sourcing costs (product, freight, duty, stock holding, handling, returns)
• Strong numeracy skills for data manipulation and presentation
• Proven ability to deliver multiple projects simultaneously
• Full UK Driving License

Desirable Qualifications or Experience

• Experience sourcing products and for tenders
• Knowledge of importing products
• Knowledge of the business supplies and services industry

The Company

evo - a powerhouse of brands.

evo Group of Companies is the UK and Ireland's largest multi-channel business supplies and services distributor. We operate a centralised distribution network with centres across the UK and Ireland, complemented by regional cross-dock sites. Our logistics platform includes hundreds of delivery vehicles, efficiently serving workplaces nationwide.

We value our people and employ over 2,000 staff across our leading brands: VOW Wholesale, VOW Ireland, Banner, Complete, Premvan, Truline, and Staples.

The Benefits

• Flexible working
• Pension contributions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• State-of-the-art IT equipment
• Volunteer days