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- Tasks: Join us as an Operational Buyer, ensuring a steady supply of top-notch materials for our award-winning products.
- Company: Be part of Neal's Yard Remedies, a brand committed to quality and sustainability in the health and beauty industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and development, plus potential remote work options.
- Why this job: This role offers hands-on experience in procurement, fostering relationships and making a real impact on product quality.
- Qualifications: Ideal candidates have experience in supply planning, MRP systems, and strong analytical skills.
- Other info: Collaborate with a passionate team and contribute to a brand that values ethical practices and customer satisfaction.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Gillingham, Dorset
Play a key role in maintaining continuous supply of high-quality materials, enabling us to continue delivering award-winning products to our customers. Our Operational Buyer supports the Procurement Manager in delivering and setting the purchasing and procurement policy, and works in a 'hands-on' capacity to ensure continuity of supply of materials.
Day to day, the Operational Buyer will:
- Minimise the risk to the Company’s brand, reputation and performance through awareness of product quality, cost, availability and stock holding.
- Schedule the supply of materials to meet production requirements and minimum safety stock levels, assessing volume requirements against planning assumptions.
- Handle day-to-day PO order management and management of deliveries using Netsuite MRP software.
- Set up & source new materials as a key member of the new product development team.
- Handle non-conformance management for materials liaising with QC, the supplier and stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain good relationships with suppliers through review meetings, ensuring demand for materials is met, value-added services are gained and business forecasts and plans are communicated.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to forecast, plan and facilitate on-time materials to the production line.
- Resolve supplier concerns and evaluate supplier performance.
- Ensure full supplier compliance in line with contractual obligations, policies, and legislative requirements.
- Support the Procurement Manager with sourcing exercises and category plans including assisting with benchmarking.
- Review product costs and source alternative supply to achieve cost savings & maintain availability.
- Review PPV (Purchase Price Variance) with a view to balance price increases with reductions in other areas.
The Operational Buyer will need:
- Previous experience of supply and demand planning and forecasting, ideally in FMCG manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge and experience of using MRP (Material Requirements Planning) systems.
- Strong IT systems knowledge and skills, including Excel.
- Good interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to form and maintain good relationships internally and externally.
- Good understanding of supply chain processes and their interdependencies.
- Understanding of supplier relationships and some experience of working with suppliers.
- Commercial and financial awareness with a full understanding of how failure impacts the costs, production, manufacture and customer order fulfilment.
- Results-orientated and organised mindset, with the ability to plan and deliver against deadlines.
- Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving skills.
Neal's Yard Remedies are partnering with Cogito on this recruitment. Upon receipt of your application, a member of the Cogito team will be in contact to discuss next steps.
Locations
Operational Buyer employer: Neal's Yard Remedies
Contact Detail:
Neal's Yard Remedies Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with MRP systems, especially Netsuite, as this is crucial for the Operational Buyer role. Consider taking an online course or tutorial to enhance your skills and demonstrate your commitment to mastering the tools used in the position.
✨Tip Number 2
Build your knowledge of supply chain processes and their interdependencies. You can do this by reading industry-related articles or joining relevant forums where you can engage with professionals in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Develop your interpersonal and influencing skills by participating in networking events or workshops. This will help you form and maintain good relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, which is essential for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on market trends and pricing strategies within the FMCG sector. This knowledge will not only prepare you for discussions during interviews but also show your potential employer that you are proactive and well-informed about the industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in supply and demand planning, particularly in FMCG manufacturing. Emphasise your knowledge of MRP systems and any specific software you have used, like Netsuite.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you're passionate about the role of Operational Buyer. Mention your ability to maintain supplier relationships and your understanding of supply chain processes, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Skills: Highlight your strong analytical and problem-solving skills in your application. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed supplier concerns or improved procurement processes in previous roles.
Research the Company: Familiarise yourself with Neal's Yard Remedies and their values. Understanding their commitment to quality and sustainability can help you align your application with their mission and demonstrate your fit for the company culture.
How to prepare for a job interview at Neal's Yard Remedies
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of an Operational Buyer. Familiarise yourself with supply chain processes, MRP systems, and the importance of maintaining supplier relationships. This knowledge will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've used analytical skills to solve problems or improve processes. Highlight any experience you have with forecasting and demand planning, especially in an FMCG environment, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Relationship Management
Be ready to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Share examples of how you've resolved conflicts or improved communication, as strong interpersonal skills are key for this position.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions prepared to ask the interviewer. This shows your interest in the role and the company. You might ask about their procurement strategies or how they measure supplier performance, which can also give you insights into their expectations.
