Category Buyer

Marshall Motor Group; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive retail group in Milton Keynes is seeking an experienced Category Buyer. The role involves supporting category strategies, conducting market research, and managing supplier relationships. Candidates should have demonstrable purchasing experience and ideally be studying towards a professional qualification. This position offers a hybrid work model, with significant time spent in Milton Keynes.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Life assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Employee discount scheme

Purchase discount scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar purchasing role.
• Experience across the end-to-end procurement process.
• Ability to investigate data and present opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Support Category Managers to deliver category strategies.
• Conduct market research to mitigate supply chain risks.
• Support commercial strategies and negotiations.
• Build effective internal and external relationships.

Skills

Influencing skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Education

Professional Procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS)

Tools

Source to Pay systems (e.g., Coupa)

Job description

Overview

Category: Buyer

Location: Hybrid, 2-3 days per week in Milton Keynes

Salary: Competitive basic salary, plus up to 10% performance bonus

Hours: 40 hours per week, working Monday to Friday

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, pension scheme, wellbeing support, employee discount for servicing and popular retailers, as well as a purchase discount scheme

Who we are

Marshall Motor Group is one of the UKs largest car dealer groups representing 23 of the worlds most popular and celebrated car, van, truck and motorbike manufacturers with 142 dealerships situated across 34 UK counties.

We are as passionate about our people as we are our customers. As part of the Constellation Automotive Group which includes webuyanycar, cinch and BCA, there are huge opportunities for you to find your place and build the career you want.

The Role

Following a review of our Procurement function with significant investment as part of a wider transformation programme, were looking for a Category Buyer with excellent influencing, stakeholder management and negotiation skills to provide Procurement support throughout the Group.

You will support the Category Managers across all categories of spend (Buildings / FM / IT / Marketing / Professional Services) and support the wider team in general Procurement activity. You will need to be a self starter, analytical, can go and investigate data and present opportunities, good relationship builder with internal stakeholders (Exec level) and suppliers.

Having the ability to work autonomously whilst working collaboratively with the wider business will be critical to the success of this role. Youll need to be able to be a strategic long term thinker who is solution orientated and not be afraid to get stuck in.

What will I do?

• Work with Category Managers to support the delivery of category strategies, aligned to the wider business objectives, delivering enhanced value for money, mitigating supply risk and continually enhancing value.
• Conduct market research to mitigate potential supply chain risks
• Conduct multiple tender and renewal initiatives to deliver value to the Group.
• Support commercial and contractual strategies and negotiations.
• Work with Procurement Governance team and support contract and supplier relationship management (In line with Procurement framework) within specific spend areas to ensure successful contractual performance
• Build effective internal and external relationships
• Develop reporting to show supplier performance against agreed metrics
• Support in the wider Procurement system transformation ensuring compliance, visibility and control.
• Support in the ongoing development and enhancement of Procurement policies, processes and governance frameworks

What do I need?

• Demonstrable experience in a similar purchasing role
• Demonstrable experience across the end to end procurement process.
• Ideally studying towards a professional Procurement qualification e.g CIPS or equivalent
• Experience of using Source to Pay systems, ideally Coupa.

Our policy is to employ the best qualified people and provide equal opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and not to discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or disability.