Senior Buyer

**Packaging Senior Buyer**

Norwich/Pontefract

Role: Senior Buyer

Department: Procurement

Reports to: Category Manager

Direct reports: Norwich

Job Purpose

Senior Buyer for the Packaging category with accountability for defined portfolio of spend and suppliers, including, amongst others, 8 production sites around the UK, with the potential to take on additional sites as the company expands further.
- Work closely with relevant stakeholders to deliver portfolio objectives including cost reduction targets and ensuring competitive advantage.
- Develop an in depth understanding of sub-categories, markets, suppliers, cost drivers and cost structure, and supplier innovation opportunities.
- Use analytical tools to identify and recommend course of action to deliver objectives, including optimal sourcing approach.
- Work with supply chain stakeholders to ensure business continuity, and with marketing and technical stakeholders to deliver cost reduction objectives and innovation needs.
- Develop strong supplier relationships to ensure that VSF become a preferred customer. Ensure all governance aspects, including legal agreements, are in force.

Spend: approx. £15million

Scope: Packaging materials, used within the production facilities associated with Kettle Foods Ltd and Valeo Confectionery Ltd (which together form Valeo Snackfoods Ltd), as well as other areas as defined by the Head of Procurement.

Key Accountabilities

Influencing:

- Facilitate projects such that objectives are achieved and provide competitive advantage.
- Negotiation of commercial terms and contractual arrangements, to the betterment of the business and such that risks within the supply chain are highlighted or mitigated.
- Effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

External Environment:

- Analyse the market forces and trends that influence the organisation and its suppliers.
- Use market data to estimate and negotiate prices for purchased categories.
- Consider external risks within supply chains and propose mitigation solutions.

Spend Management:

- Use Supplier Relationship Management to ensure the supplier and the business have aligned objectives.
- Ensure that cost objectives are achieved within the remit set by the Category Manager.

Sourcing:

- Work with internal stakeholders to bring new suppliers onboard, taking account of the differing requirements from around the business.
- Ensure stakeholders are engaged in the process such that any conflicts or challenges are overcome.

Delivering Outcomes:

- Identify and deliver added value through the supply chain categories.
- Effectively manage supplier relationships to deliver improvement in supplier service.
- Facilitate change within the supply chain category, ensuring that stakeholders are engaged.

Measurements:

- Monitor monthly KPI's for purchased categories and take appropriate internal or external actions to ensure delivery to the agreed standard.
- Monitor monthly variances for purchased categories and take appropriate actions to ensure delivery of the financial budgets.
- Encourage innovation in the supply chain and report on developments.

Competencies (Levels 3 & 4)
- Demonstrates Self Awareness: Using a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses
- Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communication that convey a clear understanding of unique needs of different audiences
- Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organisation
- Develops Talent: Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organisation's goals
- Directs Work: Providing direction, delegating and removing obstacles to get work done

HSE Responsibilities (Levels 3 & 4)

Lead by example to set expectations, plan work to be carried out in a safe manner, take action to prevent risk of harm to their team. Challenge and address unsafe behaviour, be involved in testing emergency procedures, lead accident & incident investigations to establish root causes and preventative measures. Deliver safety briefings to your team so you are seen as the safety leader of your team. Make available team embers to support the company safety program.

Personal Attributes

Team player

Completer / finisher

Detail conscious

Numerate

Data interpretation

Persuasive

Analytical

Strong interpersonal skills

Experience and Qualifications

Project team participation

Commercially astute

Negotiation skills

Financially literate

Computer literate

Graduate qualification preferred

5 year experience in procurement function

CIPS qualified (or working towards)

Supplier relationship management

Manufacturing environment (FMCG)

You will have a significant experience in sourcing Packaging and an overall procurement experience of at least 5 years and:

- Graduate qualification preferred.
- In-depth experience in strategic sourcing for an array of packaging sub-categories, including film, corrugate,