Technical Buyer

Smiths Group plc; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits for a skilled Technical Buyer to join a leading provider of security solutions. In this dynamic role, you'll take ownership of the purchasing process, from supplier evaluation to contract negotiation, ensuring timely delivery of materials for production. You'll collaborate with various stakeholders and travel to supplier locations when necessary. This position offers a chance to grow your career in a supportive environment focused on safety and well-being, making a significant impact in a global leader's mission to enhance security worldwide. Join a team that values diversity and inclusion, where your contributions will be recognized and rewarded.

Benefits

Career Growth Opportunities

Health and Wellbeing Support

Flexible Benefits

Inclusive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Self-starter with ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Experience in technical purchasing and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess potential suppliers for best value.
• Place orders and monitor delivery performance.
• Ensure localization and sustainability of supply.

Skills

Technical Purchasing

Supplier Evaluation

Contract Negotiation

Communication Skills

Microsoft Excel

Project Management Tools

Education

Experience in Technical Purchasing

Ability to Read Technical Drawings

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project Management

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Technical Buyer to join our Sourcing and Supply Chain team on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract, working on site at our Hemel Hempstead Production site.

For this key role, you will identify and assess potential appropriate suppliers who offer the best value for the business. You will evaluate the supply market, support the strategy development, quotations, negotiate contract terms, and highlight any business risks accordingly.

We are looking for someone who has experience in technical purchasing and someone who relishes owning the process from start to finish. You will be placing orders, monitoring delivery performance and balancing demand against supply, to ensure that the factory delivers to plan. With excellent communication skills, you will interact with many stakeholders internal and external across technology, quality, and suppliers.

There will be occasions when you will need to travel to visit a supplier to conduct a review, evaluate the supplier’s facility and share our business requirements. Standard security clearance is required for this site based role including minimum of 3 years UK residency.

• Ensure that localization and sustainability of supply is executed in line with company requirements.
• Work closely with vendors to ensure on-time delivery of materials and resolve any potential delay in material shipment.
• Comply to site and global Sourcing and supply chain inventory metrics.
• Support the business quotations and the award process to suppliers.
• Raise Purchase Orders as per Project Requirements / technical Specification.
• Follow up Order Acknowledgement to ensure confirmation in line with purchase order and on time Delivery.
• Coordinate technical enquiries between Smiths project team & supplier.
• Take the complete ownership for end-to-end process.
• Help ensure key strategic sourcing & supply chain processes become imbedded within our local facility.
• Supporting the project to help find supplier savings.
• Handle exception messages (create an order, progress, delay, cancel an order, deadline overrun, late starting) resulting from the MRP.
• Create and track weekly MRP demand and output with Production team leads.
• Help manage the supplier risk file, highlighting any component obsolesces or EOL (End of life) concerns.
• Support the global and regional category managers working with our key supplier partners, and they are awarded agreements on a TCO (total cost of ownership) basis considering, Cost, Working Capital, COPQ, VOTD.
• The ability to communicate at all levels, deal professionally with colleagues & suppliers.

Qualifications

• Self-starter with ability to priorities and manage multiple tasks in a dynamic, growing and developing organization.
• Able to read and understand technical drawings.
• Able to use Microsoft tools ie |Excel / power point / project management etc.

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.