Sr Procurement Specialist

G-Afton Chemical, LTD; Bracknell; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

G-Afton Chemical, LTD in Bracknell, United Kingdom seeks a procurement professional to develop and manage supplier relationships, negotiate and maintain price and supply terms, and implement contracts in collaboration with Planning and Logistics.

The role focuses on market understanding for raw materials, monitoring quality via internal systems, and working with cross-functional teams to ensure continuity, cost visibility, and strategic sourcing across regional and global initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage supplier relationships to negotiate and maintain price and supply conditions ensuring commercial terms are optimized and contracts implemented.
• SAP pricing, material transfers and forecasting data are maintained in alignment with Planning and Logistics team.
• Understand the raw materials market and identify factors influencing availability and pricing to anticipate changes and communicate them effectively.
• Support qualification of new suppliers, contract manufacturers and toll manufacturers, including site visits to assess standards.
• Prepare and communicate long term sourcing strategies to support the Long Range Plan (LRP) regionally and globally.
• Develop and maintain forecasts (volume and price) for use with suppliers and internal planning.
• Monitor quality and consistency of materials and services via the Spec Manager and VNCS, recording issues and resolutions.
• Collaborate with regional and global procurement teams to maximise strategic purchasing and supply network optimization.
• Ensure business continuity through MoC tracking and governance via Accolade platform.
• Consult with Business Group, R&D, Manufacturing to provide information on competitive challenges, pricing initiatives and quality/service issues with robust data analytics.

Job description

1. Develop and manage supplier relationships to negotiate and maintain price and supply conditions ensuring commercial terms are optimized, supply maintained, contracts implemented and managed as appropriate. SAP pricing, material transfers and forecasting data are maintained in alignment with Planning and Logistics team.

2. Develop an understanding of the market for raw materials, products and services purchased and identify factors influencing availability and pricing (know the buy) ensuring that significant market changes are anticipated, managed and communicated. Activities supported by enhanced Power BI-based COGS tracking and analytics to improve cost visibility and decision-making.

3. Identify and support qualification of new suppliers, contract manufacturers and toll manufacturers, including site visits to assess operational, EHS, ESG, and quality standards. Partner with suppliers to identify new sourcing opportunities, technologies, and cost-effective solutions that support Afton and NewMarket business objectives, including Capex and strategic growth initiatives.

4. Prepare, maintain and communicate long term sourcing strategies to support the Long Range Plan (LRP) both within region and at a global level as appropriate to ensure raw material, products and services availability and economics are communicated to and support the needs of the business.

5. Develop and maintain forecasts (volume and price) for use with suppliers and for communication within Afton including the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) process, leveraging internal digital tools to improve forecast accuracy.

6. Monitor quality and consistency of raw materials, products and services used via the Spec Manager, VNCS (Non-conformance system) and Vendor Assessment - together as Supplier Care System, to record quality issues/resolutions. Consult with Process Technology, R&D and Manufacturing and other departments as required, investigating and resolving quality issues quickly and effectively.

7. Collaborate with other Afton/ NewMarket Services purchasing team members on a regional and global basis to identify synergies that will ensure maximization of strategic purchasing and supply network optimization initiatives.

8. Ensure business continuity through strategies including MoC (Management of Change) tracking and governance via Accolade platform.

9. Consult with Business Group, R&D, Manufacturing and Process Technology to provide information regarding competitive challenges, potential entrants, pricing initiatives and quality, service, price and distribution issues, all supported by robust data analytics.

10. Demonstrate, lead and encourage best practice within the procurement process; vendor selection, specifications, tender & negotiation process/policy, business award, contracts implementation and maintenance etc.