At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing and purchasing to optimise supply chain efficiency and supplier relationships.
- Company: Cox Marine, a pioneer in sustainable marine propulsion technology.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive salary, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team focused on cleaner oceans and innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic buying or similar roles within manufacturing or engineering.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
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
Strategic Buyer employer: Cox Marine
As a Senior Design Engineer at our Shoreham-By-Sea location, you will thrive in a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises technical excellence and employee development. We offer a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements, enhanced parental leave, and a comprehensive mentoring programme, ensuring that you have the resources and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful engineering projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Buyer
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Cox Marine that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Cox Marine can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Cox Marine that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Cox Marine know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cox Marine
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
