Category Buyer

Zeus is a leading Packaging distributor providing solutions to a wide range of customers, including industrial, food service, pharmaceutical, healthcare, grocery, retail, Ecommerce and manufacturing. We are looking for an enthusiastic **Category Buyer**in the Procurement team based out of our Biggleswade Head Office to be responsible for managing agreed existing accounts along with support in prospecting new opportunities. Working with the business you will assist the evolution of our overall commercial and technical proposition so that it matches customer needs with a credible competitive product and service solutions.

The Category Buyer will work closely with the Internal and External Sales team in the sourcing and co-ordinating of all products over a range of product groups.

This role involves sourcing, co-ordinating, problem solving and solution finding, whilst overseeing commercial aspects of customer propositions prioritising the ‘best fit’ solution with the support of key supply chain partners.

Responsibilities and Duties:

- Managing New Product Enquiries (NPE’s) and tenders
- Following up NPE’s and tenders, including managing conversion rates and working to improve our offering by understanding opportunities where we have been unsuccessful, and reviewing options for future success.
- Strategic sourcing in line with selected suppliers.
- Awareness of rebate and Total Cost of Ownership.
- Have a good level of market knowledge that can be used to negotiate and leverage better prices.
- Possess a high knowledge of category related manufacturing cost bases & capabilities.
- Reviewing and offering ‘better fit’ solutions or stock alternatives for bespoke enquiries - deciphering where an ‘off the shelf’ solution may be more cost effective than a ‘bespoke’ enquiry.
- Maintain a full understanding of cost bases for your category and keep the business informed of changes in capabilities, capacity, and appetite for business through our supply base.
- Analysing supplier spend and SLA performance reports, highlighting any issues with the Category Manager to decide on appropriate actions ahead of supplier reviews.
- Coordinate with key stakeholders on new customer and product implementations, ensuring a smooth transition from concept to first delivery.
- Managing the drawing, artwork & sample sign off process for all new bespoke/printed lines. This includes checking the accuracy of drawings & artwork in accordance with the brief, and ensuring orders are not held up due to formalities but also that we have sign-off/coverage from the customer where the line is bespoke.
- Quality/Complaint Management - ensuring complaints are dealt with promptly, quantified and a cost-effective solution is actioned. A follow up report back to the sales team/customer should be provided, including a preventative action plan.
- Supplier Relationship Management - ensuring we are always working with the right partners and are offering value at all levels in the supply chain.
- Working with the stock control team on key lines & customer forecasting.
- First line of escalation for the stock control team.

**Required Skills**:

- Professional, confident, and courteous manner, both written and phone.
- Excellent communicator at all levels, good at relationship building.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Skilled in collaborative negotiation both internally and externally.
- Capability to use initiative, natural ability to recognise and respond to problems.
- Ability to make fully informed buying decisions on behalf of the business.
- Eagerness to take ownership for tasks and projects.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Customer focussed attitude - customers’ needs at the heart of every decision.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
- Knowledge of SAP desirable

General Qualifications & Characteristics:

- A positive ‘One Team’ mentality and ‘Big Picture’ thinker.
- Customer focussed possessive of a ‘can-do’ attitude.
- Analytical and results driven.
- Eager to pursue a career in buying/packaging.
- Educated to a minimum of Level 3 or non-UK equivalent.
- CIPS Level 4 Qualification Desired

Experience Required:

- Demonstrable experience of disciplines gained in a Commercially driven business function.
- Financially aware and commercially astute with an analytical mind.
- 2 years’ experience in a buying role desirable where negotiations have taken place.
- Knowledge of the packaging industry desirable
- Ability to effectively manage third party relationships and obtain favourable terms.
- Experience of effectively communicating to internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Benefits**:

- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free fitness classes
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insu