Buyer/Purchasing Assistant

SRS Partnership is currently recruiting a Buyer/Purchasing Assistant for one of our clients based in East Ayrshire.

As the Buyer/PA you will be responsible for establishing and nurturing supply chain relationships, ensuring the effective sourcing of materials and services. The role focuses on negotiating supplier prices and lead times while managing purchasing and expediting for various business projects, ensuring that everything is delivered within or under budget and on time.

Main Duties:

• Tendering and Sourcing - Liaise and support the tendering process during the enquiry phase of projects, securing supplier quotes and lead times.
• Supplier Relationship Management - Proactively manage relationships with suppliers to identify cost savings and business improvement opportunities.
• Product and Supplier Research - Monitor and investigate new products and potential sources of supply, focusing on quality, price, and lead time.
• Collaboration with Engineering and Project Teams - Work closely with the Engineering team and Project Managers to review Bills of Materials (BoMs), request quotes for materials and services, and create purchase orders.
• Negotiation and Purchase Order Management - Negotiate and place purchase orders with agreed suppliers.
• Commercial Checks - Complete checks on payment terms, delivery terms, and general Terms and Conditions to ensure alignment with both supplier and client requirements.
• Supplier Development and Contract Negotiation - Review and develop relationships with existing suppliers, negotiate contracts with new suppliers, and collaborate with the Quality Manager to ensure standards are met.
• Supplier Meetings and Relationship Building - Hold regular meetings with suppliers to maintain good working relationships, develop, and implement new purchasing initiatives.
• Cost Savings and Process Improvement - Identify potential cost savings across the business and streamline purchasing processes as necessary.
• Communication and Delivery Updates - Work with the business to improve and communicate delivery update systems.
• Reporting and Performance Monitoring - Develop reporting systems to monitor the progress and performance of buying activities.

To be successful in the role you should have:

• Understanding of Materials and Services - Solid understanding of materials, equipment, and services within a commercial engineering environment.
• Software Proficiency - Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and ideally SAGE accounting systems.
• Negotiation and Influencing Skills - Strong negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to adapt to various negotiation styles.
• Commercial Awareness - A good understanding of commercial and procurement principles.
• Communication Skills - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Stakeholder Management - Ability to interface with internal and external stakeholders effectively.
• Time Management - Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage time-sensitive situations and prioritise material scheduling.
• Qualifications - CIPS qualification is desirable but not essential.