Assistant Buyer

Mission

Working for our Midland Metro Alliance team, the Assistant Buyer role is to assist our delivery teams with a professional materials, plant and service supply.

Key Responsibilities

• Identifying allocated purchasing activities to achieve best value for money:
• Applying the five rights of purchasing and value for money criteria to any purchase of goods and services
• Evaluating the purchases of goods and services on the basis of the total costs of ownership (or whole life costs)
• Achieving value for money outcomes when spending the organisation’s money
• Liaising with internal stakeholders to review and clarify requirements to ensure that value for money outcomes are achieved through the sourcing of goods or services
• Negotiating with suppliers and customers to agree contract terms and relationships that will achieve the interests of the organisation
• Creating savings and improve efficiencies through negotiations with suppliers
• Assisting budget holders to capture savings that contribute to reductions in budgets
• Assisting the Procurement Manager and Buyers to deliver against the annual savings plan by identifying, achieving and recording cost savings:
• Comparing and evaluating quotations received from potential suppliers and dealing with any queries or concerns about completed documentation
• Compiling timely and accurate invitations to tender taking into account the requirements of stakeholders
• Promoting the use of competitive pricing with suppliers through monitoring prices and obtaining quotations when appropriate
• Comparing historical prices with newly quoted prices and evaluating the reasons for any significant discrepancies and take appropriate action to secure competitive pricing
• Analysing available data on the costs, prices, margins and mark ups of submitted process in order to negotiate competitive prices
• Negotiating with suppliers to reduce prices whilst retaining or improving other aspects of value for money
• Analysing data showing forecasts for actual expenditures and examine variances between forecasted and actual expenditures
• Analysing reports and data on the quality of goods and services supplied and taking actions with suppliers or internal stakeholders to remedy and prevent defects

Person Specification

The job holder will have:

• Experience of Procurement processes
• Commercial awareness
• Negotiating skills
• Customer awareness
• Presentation and meeting skills
• Supply Chain management
• Computer literacy-MS Office, Mentor, Access, Excel, Databases
• Previous buying experience (minimum 2 years)
• Literacy and numeracy
• Knowledge of railway terminology and procedures
• Good telephone manner
• Excellent written communication
• 4 GCSEs inc. Maths and English
• Appreciation of Health, Safety and Environmental requirements
• PTS (desirable)
• MCIPS qualified (or desirable)
• Required to attend Competition Compliance training course.

What we offer

• Competitive Salary
• 26 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
• Industry leading Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Long Service Award
• Season Ticket Loan
• Occupational Health Service