Comodity Buyer

Senior is an international, market-leading, engineering solutions provider with 26 operating businesses in 12 countries. Senior designs and manufactures high-technology components and systems for the principal original equipment manufacturers in the worldwide aerospace, defence, land vehicle and power & energy markets. The Group is split into two divisions, Aerospace and Flexonics, servicing five key sectors.

Company: Senior Aerospace BWT

Job Title: Commodity Buyer

Reporting To: Purchasing Manager

Scope and Purpose of the Role:          

The Commodity Buyer will be responsible for the continuity of cost-effective supply of materials, consumables and services by managing supplier relationships, contracts, pricing and static data. Manage and develop supplier relationships; drive robust, pro-active internal communications and ensure continuous improvement within the Supply Chain. Unlock opportunity and drive margin expansion within the Supply Chain

(Note: In addition to these functions, employees are required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required.)

Right to vary job descriptions:

This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted.  It is the practice of this organisation periodically to examine employees’ job descriptions and to up-date them to ensure that they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed.  This procedure is jointly conducted by each manager in consultation with those working directly for him/her. You will, therefore, be expected to participate fully in such discussions.  It is the organisation’s aim to reach agreement to reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description commensurate with your grade/level in the organisation after consultation with you.

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Core Objectives:

• Cost-effective continuity of supply of materials, services and consumables
• Manage and develop approx. 100 active suppliers and >1,500 active SKUs plus future growth
• Support Supply Chain, internal stakeholders and Rate Readiness reviews to ensure that BWT and its Supply Chain is resourced and aligned to support future growth

Duties and Responsibilities:  

• To lead RFQ processes to ensure pricing to BWT is competitive
• To identify mutually beneficial opportunities for Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and implement these  with appropriate vendors particularly seeking to agree ‘annual’ pricing and call-off processes
• To lead (eg) annual pricing negotiations and ensure ‘strategic’ alignment between vendors and BWT
• Take ownership of PPV
• Identify risk mitigation for sole/single sourced items
• Co-ordinate and lead regular reviews of supplier performance, both internally and with vendors:
  1. OTD
  2. Quality performance
  3. Capacity and capability to support growth (Rate Readiness)
• Take a lead to ensure Design For Manufacture and Design For Cost are considered during NPI
• Ensure that vendor led CI opportunities are fully assessed, considered and where possible implemented
• To generate and analyse data and present to vendors and BWT management to include spend reviews, project updates, cost opportunities etc
• Liaise with Commercial and Purchased Materials Planner to ensure purchased parts static data remains aligned to programme life cycle
• To ensure that any and all issues requiring escalation are indeed escalated in a timely manner and to such an extent as to effect resolution
• To ensure, through close liaison with Planner, that issues such as Returns are processed effectively and in a timely manner
• Cost-effective continuity of supply of materials, services and consumables
• Support the senior leadership team with ad-hoc analysis and project management requirements

General Duties:

• Contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Purchasing Function
• Ensure effective communication at all levels
• Observance of all policies and procedures
• Maintain the necessary conditions for a safe and effective working environment
• Ensure optimum utilisation of all materials and equipment in the daily operation of duties
• Acknowledgement that long working hours may be required at busy periods to ‘get the job done’
• Work with and within dedicated project teams as appropriate

Environment:

The Commodity Buyer will be required to spend extended periods of time at a desk using a computer.  Regular breaks must be taken for eye relief and posture relaxation. It may be necessary to work off-site, including overseas.

Any Particular Skills/Aptitude Required:

• The ability to conduct and champion improvements within the Purchasing function
• Embraces problems and sees them through to an end
• Analytical approach to cross-functional problem solving and strong attention to detail
• Numerate and articulate
• A person with the self-confidence, passion and commitment to inspire others to work towards a common purpose, achieving tangible results
• The ability to conduct and champion improvements within the Purchasing function
• Excellent IT skills essential including Word and advanced Excel
• Detailed ERP system knowledge; Syteline preferred but not essential
• Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain professional standards during busy periods
• The ability to analyse complex and high volume data sets, summarize key information and present this in a clear and concise manner

Experience and Training:

Must have:

• Experience in a manufacturing/engineering environment where production, material planning and purchasing is controlled through an electronic ERP system
• Experience in running RFQ processes
• Experience in negotiating LTAs/Contracts
• Experience in facilitating cross-functional activities
• Proven ability to communicate well with others and work effectively as part of a team
• Confidence and tenacity to manage Supply Chain projects and see through to completion

Desirable:

• CIPS level 4
• Able to understand and interpret engineering drawings
• Ability to identify Value Engineering opportunities

Benefits:

• 31 days holiday per year (including 8 bank holidays)
• Up to 5 additional days' holiday on completion of 8 years' service
• Christmas eve Off when Christmas Eve falls on a working day
• 37 hours per week – Early finish on Friday
• Company Sick Pay: 20 days paid per rolling 12-month window (following 12 months' service)
• Pension up to 11% Employee & 15% Employer
• Free Life Insurance of 6 x Basic salary
• 2 hours paid hospital appointments
• Enhanced Company Maternity & Paternity Pay
• Attendance Bonus
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday Buy/Sell Scheme
• Parking facilities
• On-site physiotherapy service
• On-site Counselling service
• Flu vaccination service
• BWT subsidised family days out
• Discounted days out
• Employee Appreciation Events