Purchasing Specialist

Purchasing Specialist

Full-Time 20800 - 36400 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage purchasing activities, supplier relationships, and resolve supply chain issues daily.
  • Company: Join Bertelsmann, a global leader in media, services, and education with 117,000 employees.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, pension contributions, life assurance, and employee discounts.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
  • Qualifications: Experience in purchase order processing; familiarity with SAP and strong admin skills required.
  • Other info: Work Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, in a fun and supportive environment.

The predicted salary is between 20800 - 36400 £ per year.

Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. The company has 117,000 employees and generated revenues of €17.1 billion in the 2015 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship, promoting first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world.

Salary: £26,000.00

Location: Hams Hall

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

Are you a pro at juggling tasks and passionate about procurement? Do you enjoy problem-solving, fostering supplier relationships, and ensuring operations run seamlessly? If so, we’ve got an exciting opportunity for you! As a key member of our UK Procurement team, you’ll be the central point for all purchasing activities — from onboarding new suppliers and managing purchase orders to monitoring deliveries and resolving supply chain issues. You’ll also have the chance to put your sourcing and negotiation skills to work, helping us drive cost efficiency and improve procurement processes.

Your Tasks:

  • Keeping the purchase order process ticking by processing requisitions and issuing POs like a pro
  • Chasing goods receipts and resolving purchase mysteries using the ME2N report
  • Onboarding new suppliers and maintaining up-to-date catalogues in SAP
  • Troubleshooting PR, PO, GR, and invoice queries like a procurement detective
  • Supporting UK Procurement with sourcing, tenders, and commercial negotiations
  • Building strong relationships with internal teams and external suppliers
  • Finding ways to make our processes smarter, faster, and better

Your Profile:

  • Experience in purchase order processing – FMCG or logistics experience is a big plus!
  • Sharp admin and IT skills – you know your way around SAP (GUI, Fiori, or S/4Hana) and Microsoft Office
  • A working knowledge of purchasing and finance processes
  • Bonus points for experience in sourcing, RFIs, RFQs, or tendering
  • A self-starter who stays cool under pressure and meets deadlines
  • A communicator and collaborator – someone who solves problems and keeps things moving
  • Confidence, clarity, and curiosity
  • A keen eye for detail
  • A proactive attitude with a problem-solving mindset

We Offer:

  • 25 days annual leave with the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days
  • Pension contribution
  • A life assurance policy that pays out 4 x Salary
  • Employee Assistance Programme that provides you with confidential support, information, and advice
  • Employee Discount Scheme through Treats
  • Free car parking

If you’re ready to bring your purchasing skills to a team that values precision, collaboration, and a dash of fun – we’d love to hear from you!

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Contact Detail:

Arvato SCM UK Ltd Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Purchasing Specialist

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with SAP systems, especially if you have experience with GUI, Fiori, or S/4Hana. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency in these tools during the interview will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.

✨Tip Number 2

Brush up on your negotiation skills and be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully negotiated terms with suppliers in the past. This will highlight your ability to drive cost efficiency, which is a key aspect of the role.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your problem-solving abilities by preparing to discuss challenges you've faced in procurement and how you resolved them. This will demonstrate your proactive attitude and ability to stay cool under pressure.

✨Tip Number 4

Network with professionals in the procurement field, especially those with experience in FMCG or logistics. Building relationships can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals for the position.

We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing Specialist

Purchase Order Processing
Supplier Relationship Management
Sourcing Skills
Negotiation Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Attention to Detail
Experience with SAP (GUI, Fiori, S/4Hana)
Microsoft Office Proficiency
Knowledge of Purchasing and Finance Processes
Ability to Work Under Pressure
Strong Communication Skills
Collaboration Skills
Proactive Attitude
Analytical Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in purchase order processing, FMCG, or logistics. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in procurement and problem-solving.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for procurement and your ability to foster supplier relationships. Mention your familiarity with SAP and how you can contribute to making processes smarter and more efficient.

Highlight Key Skills: In your application, emphasise your sharp admin and IT skills, as well as your experience with sourcing, RFIs, RFQs, or tendering. These are crucial for the Purchasing Specialist role.

Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities: Provide examples of how you've successfully resolved supply chain issues or improved procurement processes in previous roles. This will demonstrate your proactive attitude and problem-solving mindset.

How to prepare for a job interview at Arvato SCM UK Ltd

✨Showcase Your Procurement Experience

Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in purchase order processing, especially if you have worked in FMCG or logistics. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed supplier relationships or resolved supply chain issues.

✨Demonstrate Your IT Skills

Since the role requires proficiency in SAP and Microsoft Office, be ready to talk about your experience with these tools. You might even want to mention any specific projects where you used these systems to improve procurement processes.

✨Emphasise Problem-Solving Abilities

The company values a proactive attitude and problem-solving mindset. Prepare to share instances where you identified issues in procurement and how you tackled them effectively, showcasing your ability to stay calm under pressure.

✨Build Rapport with Interviewers

As a Purchasing Specialist, building strong relationships is key. During the interview, engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions and showing genuine interest in their experiences at Bertelsmann. This will demonstrate your collaborative nature.

Purchasing Specialist
Arvato SCM UK Ltd
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