Strategic Buyer in Shoreham-by-Sea

Company Description

Cox Marine is a manufacturer of the only purpose-built high-powered diesel outboard engine, focused on powering the global marine industry through sustainable innovation. The company is committed to applying alternative fuel sources to help significantly reduce marine emissions and the environmental impact of vessel operations. Cox Marine also aims to lower the total cost of ownership for customers by delivering efficient, durable, and reliable propulsion solutions. Team members contribute to an innovative environment that supports cleaner oceans and more sustainable marine transportation.

Job Description

12 month Fixed Term (Maternity cover) Contract

4 or 5 day week (flexible days and hours, plus hybrid working)

Salary from £50,000.00 per year

Essential Experience

We are looking for candidates with previous Strategic Buyer, Senior Buyer, Commodity Manager, Category Manager or equivalent experience within a manufacturing, engineering, automotive, aerospace, defence, marine or industrial environment.

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic-minded Strategic Buyer to join our procurement team. The successful candidate will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing materials, goods, and services essential to our operations, ensuring optimal value and supply chain efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Take the lead in orchestrating a cross-functional approach to identify and secure contracts with high-performing suppliers. Ensure that these suppliers are selected in alignment with the company's Master Production Schedule (MPS) and Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) requirements.
• Develop and maintain a supply base that fulfils or surpasses organisational objectives related to delivery, quality, cost, technology and contractual terms. Consistently challenge suppliers to improve their costs and performance.
• Establish and nurture strong working relationships and partnerships with suppliers. This should be built on clear communication, transparency, and mutually agreed contractual terms.
• Lead cross-functional processes to manage suppliers in accordance with contractual terms and company requirements.
• Create and maintain supplier scorecards, utilising them to inform inventory decisions, communication strategies, and supplier management practices.
• Manage escalations and supplier-related issues, driving cross-functional actions to ensure prompt resolution.
• Prepare, schedule, and conduct commercial reviews with suppliers, ensuring outcomes are clearly documented and communicated.
• Chair the supplier account team for those suppliers requiring intensive support.
• Communicate any significant changes in product or delivery schedules to suppliers and ensure formal acknowledgement of these changes is received.
• Create, update, and maintain ERP parameters so that they accurately reflect mutually agreed contractual arrangements.

Desirable Skills

• Demonstrated experience as a strategic buyer (or similar role) with a proven track record of identifying, contracting, managing, and enhancing new suppliers.
• Exceptional negotiation abilities; skilled at translating supply chain goals into mutually acceptable contracts.
• Outstanding commercial insight, evidenced by global supply chain achievements in both sourcing new suppliers and optimising existing partnerships.
• Effective leadership skills, fostering collaboration across teams to achieve timely and successful results.
• Proven ability to build and sustain robust supplier relationships based on clear communication, integrity, and trust.
• Experienced in boosting supplier performance within the supply chain, utilising scorecards to initiate action both internally and externally.
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing settings, their processes, and ERP systems.
• CIPS Level 4 qualification (or equivalent) or higher.

Our Values

• We build trust
• We work together
• We empower each other
• We take ownership
• We speak up
• We care

Benefits

• Additional leave
• Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Employee mentoring programme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Financial planning services
• Flexitime
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid volunteer time
• Private medical insurance
• Sabbatical
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Ability to commute/relocate

• Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Work authorisation

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location

Hybrid in Shoreham-By-Sea