Purchasing Engineer

Exciting opportunity for an experienced Purchasing Engineer to join a well-established and innovative manufacturing business in Thame!

Job Purpose

To manage and coordinate purchase functions at site level in coordination with global procurement guidelines and objectives. Develop and implement key procurement strategies, contingency plans and ensure that plans are aligned with business requirements. Develop long-term partnerships with suppliers. Monitor supplier performance to ensure meeting of service, cost, delivery and quality norms. Supplier relationship management to ensure mutually beneficial and stable business relationships are maintained.

Job Context

This role supports UK-based operations while working closely with international teams and global subsidiaries. Based in Thame, the position may require occasional travel to supplier sites across the UK and internationally. Responsible for achieving agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set by management. Operates as an integral member of the operational team, contributing to day-to-day procurement activities. Undertakes additional duties as required to maintain and enhance procurement processes and supplier relationship management. Provides support to cross-functional projects beyond procurement, including continuous improvement initiatives, sustainability programmes, and new product introduction. This is primarily an office-based role (Monday to Thursday), with home working available on Fridays.

Job Dimensions

• Outsourcing and component development for parts and new products introduced.
• Vendor base management.
• Statutory documentation.
• Master data maintenance in D365 related to procurement function.
• Compliance with GPP non-inventory (indirect) procurement support.

Key Accountabilities

• Interfacing with cross-functional departments for ascertaining procurement plans.
• Ensuring maximum cost savings.
• Co-ordination with Design, R&D, QA and suppliers.
• Closely work with Global Purchase Team for alternate sourcing, support and participation towards all actions to ensure diversified supplier base.
• New parts/vendor development to help with new product introduction.
• Negotiation and price finalization with suppliers for best possible prices and terms.
• Performing cost and scenario analysis, and benchmarking.
• Drive and implement cost reduction projects/monitor the progress and reporting it to business.
• Management reporting on KPIs, commodity movement, operations reports, purchase volume and corresponding savings, BOS.
• Monitoring KPIs, performance of team members to ensure efficiency in operations and meeting of individual & group targets.
• Creating and sustaining a dynamic environment that fosters the development opportunities and motivates high performance amongst the team members.
• Lead and ensure implementation of GPP and compliance.
• Monitor and control on D365 records that includes vendor registrations, VTA, standard costs, price approvals as per DOA, non-inventory PO approvals and routine PR-PO management.
• Monitoring, review and control of non-inventory purchase/AMCs and related procurements, price negotiations, contracting and approvals as per GPP.
• Review/monitor - ECN management mod meetings - participation.
• Review/monitor - price variances monitoring COPQ scrap rates negotiations and controls.
• Regular review and control on tooling records, approvals for tool agreement, ensuring the tool payment and tool asset register.
• Annual budgeting exercise by providing cost details and inputs on trends of material cost for the forthcoming year.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Degree in Engineering, professional certification in procurement and supply chain or equivalent.
• Understanding of the principles of materials management.
• Working knowledge of MRP set ups.
• Numeracy skills to interpret statistics and make commercial decisions.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced computer skills - specifically in Microsoft Office & AX Dynamics D365.

Behavioural Competencies

• High level of communication skills, people management.
• Strong leadership skills with an ability to drive team's performance.
• Planning and organizational skills.
• Proactive and positive (can do) approach, innovative and customer focused.