Role: Head of Purchasing – Automotive & Industrial

Location: Banbury, Oxon

Salary: Competitive basic & benefits

Role Overview:

Execute the strategy for the Purchasing Team in line with the Group objectives, as well as offering development and direction to all team members. Manage and monitor spends across the group, which will include a savings profile to support the Group financial targets. Support engineering on new product development

Key responsibilities include:

• To follow the business purchasing strategy, albeit brand or quality led, and develop an effective supplier sourcing and management process
• Lead support and manage the tendering process for all company purchases, managing the purchasing team to ensure a high level of performance
• Maximise profit by tendering contracts and meeting with key suppliers to negotiate the best terms of contract
• Realise and deliver end-to-end cost savings, together with a range of additional benefits including improved supplier performance, improved quality of service and total cost of performance along with risk management of the supply base
• Removing all areas of supplier waste in the business through a developed supply chain strategy
• Assist team to produce and stick to the procurement work plan and create dashboard controls against each
• To work collaboratively with finance on departmental and wider organisational forecasts, where procurement has an impact
• To work closely with Sales and Product Management to ensure supply to the market requirements
• Work closely with all suppliers and create close relationships with key strategic partners in line with the set supplier strategy, including the Asian supply office
• Manage the procurement governance process across the business ensuring policy compliance
• Always look to maintain gross margins, where possible, in line with the agreed business plan set for the year

Skills and Experience:

• Previous purchasing experience (Essential)
• Qualified, or working towards CIPS qualification – Level 4 minimum (Essential)
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft applications (intermediate Excel) (Essential)
• Strong attention to detail and must have proven experience of working at a detailed level (Essential)
• Proven track record of growing and leading a team (Essential)
• Strong commercial and negotiating experience (Essential)
• Experience of designing, implementing and refining processes and policies (Essential)
• Possess excellent interpersonal, analytical, trouble shooting and strong team building skills (Essential)
• Ability to work well under pressure (Essential)
• Ability to influence positively at an executive stakeholder level (Essential)
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) (Essential)
• Dealing with multiple geographical locations and languages (Desirable)
• Must be organised, efficient and work methodically (Essential)
• Industry knowledge/experience in the fastener market (Desirable)
• Valid and current driving licence (Essential)
• Valid and current passport – with no exclusions on overseas travel (Essential)