Category Buyer

Role Title: Category Buyer
Division: Category Management/Purchasing
Employment Type: Fixed Term - 12 Months
Location: Trowbridge, UK
Salary: Competitive
Work Hours per Week: 37.5

Brand Overview:

Our client is a leading independent supplier of publishing's and consumables, and the division serves over 30,000 customers in the education and care markets including nurseries, schools and care homes. The business has approximately 550 suppliers and an extensive range of over 40,000 products including stationery, arts and craft and cleaning materials. Both the Education and Care sectors are increasing in size and we're mirroring their expansion. As a result, we're a vibrant business that is growing as our customer base extends.

Position Description:

The Buyer will be responsible for pro-actively managing the sourcing and management of suppliers that will enable us to deliver a customer service led, vibrant and innovative business solution to our customers.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

*Responsible for acquiring and maintaining best supplier market knowledge to facilitate the forecast on supplier activity and markets growth/decline
*Take a lead position in all critical and leverage supplier negotiations
*Ensure effective contracts are in place for all suppliers demonstrating the best overall deal has been achieved
*Develop team based relationships with suppliers that will enable us productively manage and grow for mutual benefit
*Direct supplier performance and implement continuous improvement plans
*Manage the introduction and removal of suppliers from our supply base
*Work as part of a Category Team in close cooperation with the respective Product Manager to deliver category targets
*Deliver and monitor pricing targets, giving planned versus actual reports

Knowledge and Skills

Essential:

*Good knowledge of MS Word, and Powerpoint.
*Excellent MS Excel skills.
*Full driving licence - there is a requirement to attend off-site supplier meetings which may on occasion require an overnight stay.
*Current and relevant experience of working within Purchasing/Buying.
*A purchasing professional with current and relevant experience.
*A skillful negotiator with contract and supplier management experience.
*Good interpersonal and communication skills.
*Target driven.
*Ability to prioritise and multi-task
*A good eye for detail
*A team player

Desirable:

*CIPS qualified.
*Experience of educational furniture market.

Hy-phen Limited is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.