Technical Buyer (Outsourced Manufacturing _ Point of Sale Materials), Any UK in Manchester

As a Technical Buyer, you will actively work on and be responsible for the execution of Permanent Point of Sale Materials (POSM) and Retail Fixtures + Fittings for our market-leading client brands and retailers. Using your product / materials knowledge and market intelligence, you’ll research potential new suppliers globally and working with relevant stakeholders you’ll ensure effective handovers and multi-party engagement as part of project implementations. This role is for an experienced buyer who is comfortable with sourcing 3rd party manufacturing / assembly capability, operating from technical drawings and is familiar with production materials including wood, metal, plastic (fabricated, vacuum formed + injection molded) and the integration of electronic parts such as lighting and screens.

The role(s) can be based in most Europe / EMEA locations with preference for Poland, Czechia, UK and Türkiye.

Key responsibilities

• Commercial
• Adding true value to projects, challenging the norms to ensure growth within the category.
• You are accountable for contractually compliant pricing and guaranteed execution at the highest levels.
• Involving analytics in tenders and complex RFQs.
• Reviewing the results in consultation with the team, proposing the best-in-class solution.
• Work with HH Global Client Engagement teams to ensure that savings targets are met or exceeded in nominated accounts.
• Meeting or exceeding the category KPIs.
• Operational
• Working with Client Engagement, Design and Engineering teams to ensure we have all the technical drawings and BOM per project and a clear brief, timings, locations, exports globally etc.
• Ensure pricing and supply chain are suitable for each project.
• Compiling of the RFQ documents for tenders, sending out to suppliers and liaising with them on the details.
• Work with analytics to collate, aggregate and present the outcome of the tender with recommendations.
• Use the best supplier / best price/ best logistics route, with freight / duties and tariffs globally.
• Ensure Client Engagement teams have all the necessary information to present to client and confirm any final adjustments and subsequent cost changes if applicable.
• Produce CPAs, confirm tooling contracts, and ensure client engagement communicate clearly to manage client expectations.
• Manage the project execution through prototyping and signoff for production.
• Thereafter, hand over to job managers for POs, execution of production, freight, warehousing etc.
• Handover all technical aspects of each project including the quality control documentation, to the QC team / suppliers.
• Move production of products and services from incumbent suppliers to new vendors, when and where appropriate.
• Source from direct manufacturers wherever possible, removing agents and third parties from the supply chain.

Knowledge, skills + experience

• Technical Buying experience and the ability to read technical drawings.
• Experience of sourcing outsourced manufacturing capacity and where appropriate, assessing options to split production of a display by material.
• Knowledge of materials and production processes including wood, metal, plastic (fabricated, vacuum formed + injection molded).
• Experience in Permanent POSM and Retail Display / Fittings or a sector and product that is obviously comparable.
• Skilled in managing RFQ and tender processes from specification to award.
• Familiarity with quality standards and inspection requirements.
• The ability to negotiate at all levels.
• Experience of business process re-engineering and procurement outsourcing.
• Demonstrate highly developed relationship management skills with the ability to work within cross‑functional teams (Engineering, Design, Production Management + Client Engagement).
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• High levels of Excel, numeracy and analytical ability.
• A good level of spoken and written English.