Assistant Commercial Buyer

O'Brien Ingredients; Leinster; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

O’Brien Ingredients in Ireland is seeking an Assistant Commercial Buyer to support pricing, product maintenance and supplier relations across the food ingredients sector.

You will manage product codes, run pricing changes, generate reports, and collaborate with sales and operations to ensure accurate margins and timely procurement.

Qualifications

• Experience in food distribution or technical administration is desirable.
• Proven commercial acumen with strong negotiation skills.
• Team player with solid organisational and planning abilities.
• Ability to focus and prioritise tasks in a busy environment.
• Experience dealing with third-party suppliers and customers.
• Analytical approach with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency with MS Office, especially advanced Excel.

Responsibilities

• Maintain product codes, create pricing per margin, and implement price changes.
• Resolve pricing queries from suppliers and customers and notify stakeholders.
• Complete pricing uploads on customer trading sites (EDI, etc.).
• Notify relevant departments of updates and perform ad hoc system testing.
• Identify suppliers and support negotiations to secure competitive pricing.
• Compile margin and ad hoc reports; prepare monthly samples and promotions reports.
• Assist in supplier meetings and log minutes; log samples as required.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Team player

Negotiation skills

Organisational skills

Planning skills

Prioritisation

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Analytical mindset

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

The Company

O’Brien Ingredients, established in 1967, markets and distributes a wide range of food ingredients to the Food Processing and Baking Industry sectors throughout the island of Ireland. The business has a long-established reputation for innovative products and services.

Job Title

Assistant Commercial Buyer

Reporting to

Commercial and Buying Manager

1. Pricing and Product Maintenance

• Open & maintain product codes
• Create pricing in line with margin parameters and with input from the sales team
• Implement Price changes as directed by sales and commercial team members
• Solve pricing queries from suppliers and customers
• Notify customers and sales team of product and pricing changes
• Complete pricing uploads on various customer trading sites (EDI etc)

2. System / Database Maintenance

• Notify relevant departments of updates
• Carry out system testing on adhoc basis

3. Third Party Relationships

• Help to identify alternative suppliers, to help build partnerships to innovate the company processes and products
• Supports negotiations with existing and potential new suppliers to achieve pricing consistent with market requirements, whilst also maintaining a high level of service and security of supply
• Assist in the Annual Negotiation of Raw Material Pricing

4. Reports

• Review Margin reports to pick up pricing errors and margin erosion
• Compile ad hoc reports as requested
• Monthly report on samples processed
• Complete report for specific customer monthly promotion cycles

5. Other Duties

• Requesting samples from suppliers / sample logging / samples despatch and other company documentation
• Attend supplier meetings & document minutes

Essential Skills & Computer Knowledge

• Knowledge of the food / raw material distribution sector or relevant experience in technical administration / customer / supplier service in a professional distribution environment would be desirable
• Proven commercial acumen
• Food industry experience would be desirable
• Team player
• Strong Negotiation, Organisational and Planning skills.
• Ability to focus and prioritise tasks.
• Experience dealing with third-party relationships (suppliers etc.)
• Strong problem-solving ability
• Proven systematic, analytic approach to work and strong attention to detail
• Proficiency with MS Office application – advanced Excel required