Purchasing Officer

UTAC; Bedford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

UTAC is seeking a skilled Purchasing Officer to enhance our procurement capabilities within the automotive industry. The ideal candidate will spearhead sourcing initiatives, driving cost savings and supplier performance, while contributing to the development of our purchasing strategies. With a focus on collaboration and operational excellence, this role offers an exciting opportunity to shape purchasing practices in a global context.

Benefits

Life Cover

Healthcare cashback plans

Generous holiday benefits

Access to employee assistance support services

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a senior buying or assistant manager role.
• Knowledge of the automotive industry is advantageous.
• Confident communicator and financially literate.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing activities through negotiations with suppliers.
• Support implementation of the Global Purchasing process.
• Manage Requests for Quotations (RFQ) effectively.

Skills

Negotiating skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Team player

Education

CIPS qualification

Degree level qualification in a business related field

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

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The Purchasing Officer will have a high level of responsibility, with emphasis on supporting key business units on a day-to-day basis. There will also be broader responsibilities across the organisation to lead sourcing activities, which will typically be time sensitive, complex and high-value. Purchasing KPIs are used to drive operational performance, priorities and behaviors of the team. These generally focus on supplier savings, supplier development and our ability to support the organisation in a timely manner.

The Purchasing team are currently going through a degree of transformation following the T25 initiative. This will generate a greater Group global emphasis through aligned processes, suppliers, local Purchasing resources (in a number of countries) and improved collaboration.

The candidate will gain a detailed understanding of purchasing best practices, with particular focus on competitive tendering, negotiation practices and the development of the supply chain. The experience should also give valuable insights into and practices of a Medium to Large sized Enterprise as well as a detailed and interesting understanding of the Automotive Industry.

Job Description

The Purchasing Officer will have a high level of responsibility, with emphasis on supporting key business units on a day-to-day basis. There will also be broader responsibilities across the organisation to lead sourcing activities, which will typically be time sensitive, complex and high-value. Purchasing KPIs are used to drive operational performance, priorities and behaviors of the team. These generally focus on supplier savings, supplier development and our ability to support the organisation in a timely manner.

The Purchasing team are currently going through a degree of transformation following the T25 initiative. This will generate a greater Group global emphasis through aligned processes, suppliers, local Purchasing resources (in a number of countries) and improved collaboration.

The candidate will gain a detailed understanding of purchasing best practices, with particular focus on competitive tendering, negotiation practices and the development of the supply chain. The experience should also give valuable insights into and practices of a Medium to Large sized Enterprise as well as a detailed and interesting understanding of the Automotive Industry.

Qualifications

Roles and Responsibilities

• Sourcing of goods/services through sometimes extensive and complex negotiations with UK and overseas suppliers, whilst meeting the needs of the business
• Developing existing and new supply chain opportunities
• Supporting with the implementation of the Global Purchasing process
• Strong expertise and guidance to stakeholders, with particular focus on the UK
• Conversing well with the Purchasing team located in UK and rest of World
• Analysing quotes to identify the optimum position for UTAC and making sourcing recommendations as appropriate. Implementing new agreements ensuring all financial, quality and delivery considerations have been achieved
• Conducting stakeholder reviews across the business to drive the delivery of purchasing projects, with the supply chain
• Becoming competent with the procurement systems (internal procedures and ERP are both going through a period of change)
• Managing Requests for Quotations (RFQ)
• Continued development of new processes to industry best practices
• Assist with the development and support of key Purchasing strategies
• Analytical support, preparing and working to key metrics to drive operational performance
• Supplier audits with focus on Business Continuity, IT Security etc.
• Developing and working to saving targets/strategies (across all purchasing categories)
• Understanding and awareness of contractual terminology to mitigate risk, and implementing new supplier agreements
• Act in accordance with the behaviours for UTAC colleagues at all times

Person Specification

Qualifications

• CIPS or Degree level qualification in a business related field are desirable

Core competencies:

• Experience within a similar senior buying or assistant manager role, with a minimum of 3 years’ experience
• Knowledge of the automotive industry, although not essential
• Knowledge of logistics industry, although not essential

Advantageous Qualities:

• Confident communicator at all levels
• Fluent in English language
• Team player
• Analysing cost data and commercial advantages
• Analytical skills
• Negotiating skills
• Managing difficult conversations
• Financially literate
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organisational, analytical and problem solving skills

Personal Behaviours:

• Dynamic individual, keen to excel in the role and organisation
• Works well as part of a small team
• Uses own initiative and works well without supervision
• Willingness to learn
• Methodical
• Flexible and adaptable
• Problem solver
• Highly motivated team player
• Customer focussed
• High level of confidentiality and integrity

Other:

• Full UK driving licence and own transport (UTAC is not easily assessable via public transport)
• SC clearance or ability to achieve this (UK national with residency in the UK for the last 5 years)
• Willing to undergo a Criminal Disclosure check
• This position be will based on site (at Bedford), with the potential opportunity for some remote working
• Working Environment: Office
• Travel Required: Travel as required within the UK and mainland Europe

Additional Information

For you, as a potential UTAC team member, we believe that the international and diverse nature of our business combined with the passion, energy and friendliness of our people create a great place to work. UTAC is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing inclusion and supporting our people to be themselves and at their very best.

By joining us you will gain access to a broad range of learning relevant to your role and personal development, as well as exposure to leading technologies and expertise.

Our reward and benefit programmes are designed to support our people with competitive and locally tailored packages combined with support for individual health and wellbeing both inside and outside of work.

In the UK this includes;

• Life Cover
• Access to a wide range of discounts and offers via the Perkz reward scheme
• Recognition awards linked to our UTAC values of Expertise, Innovation and Integrity.
• Healthcare cashback plans
• Generous holiday benefits
• Contributorypension schemes
• Attractivefamily friendly policies; maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, flexible working.
• Access to a variety of employee assistance support services.

Learn more about UTAC and what and how we do what we do at www.utac.com

Candidates for positions at UTAC must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the country the role is based in. Immigration visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Note to Recruitment Agencies:

UTAC do not accept speculative applications from agencies for our open positions and any submissions made will not be accepted and no fees will be accepted or paid in respect of speculative CVs received.