Junior Buyer

The role is based in Normanton. The Junior Buyer will be required to travel to other Group locations to work alongside colleagues and for external meetings as appropriate (including internationally).

The Junior Buyer will work alongside the Purchasing Manager to support key buying and negotiating activities that are required to support existing and new contract and non contract business. The role will support and at times deliver successful commercial negotiations that improve the overall performance of the business. The role will work to ensure sustainable procurement objectives are met and the business remains fully compliant on all products it sells.

Responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

- Support the Purchasing Manager in select key category related suppliers/brands to interrogate and test market pricing.
- Work on key projects and monitor and review competitor activity - eg in Green/CSR offers.
- Sourcing and negotiating competitive terms for customer specific products from vendors.
- Source products to customer’s specifications at the right price to allow the business to quote and win tender opportunities.
- Request, record and present findings from Product Pricing requests in a clear and concise manner to allow easy assessment of the financial benefits of each proposal.
- Prepare information to assist in the management of the supplier. Including supplier assessment in accordance with the responsible procurement policy, sales and purchase analysis, service performance and terms improvement opportunities.
- Take responsibility for vendor ‘housekeeping‘ including supplier set up, product set up, maintenance of specification, supplier audits, stock issues.
- Understand and monitor product and supplier compliance in line with company terms and conditions and keep up to date with differences between EU and UK product certification.
- Investigate and where applicable resolve vendor & product specification queries
- Working with Group Inventory to manage supplier delivery arrangements to the UK and Ireland
- Build strong relationships and rapport with key personnel, interfacing at different levels with key supplier contacts.
- Prioritise activity that presents the greatest influence, both real and potential, on the profitability of EVO Group
- Appreciation of and understanding of the legal implications of this role through legislative and regulatory knowledge.
- Time management is critical in this job role, so the ability to focus and drive to meet goals, deadlines and manage their workload is key.
- Developed communication skills and a high level of professionalism to work with senior supplier contacts.
- Ability to manage critical business data in a confidential manner

**Other Qualifications or Experience**
- Strong negotiating skills
- Experience developing supplier relationships
- Ability to project plan the introduction of new products and moving products between suppliers
- Understanding of the full cost of sourcing decisions (product, freight, duty, stock holding, handling, returns)
- Strong numeracy skills, the ability to manipulate and present data
- Ability to successfully deliver multiple projects simultaneously
- Full UK Driving License

**Desirable Qualifications or Experience**
- CIPS qualifications
- Experience sourcing products
- Sourcing for customer tenders
- Knowledge of importing products
- Knowledge of the business supplies and services industry

**evo - a powerhouse of brands.**
evo Group of Companies is the UK and Ireland’s largest multi-channel business supplies and services distributor. We operate a centralised distribution network, with distribution centres around the UK and Ireland, complemented by regional cross-dock sites. Our unrivalled logistics platform includes hundreds of our own delivery vehicles, efficiently delivering a vast range of essential goods to workplaces across the nation.

We recognise that our people are at the heart of our culture here at evo and we are proud to employ over 2,000 people across our brands:
**VOW Wholesale** is the largest specialist business supplies wholesaler in the UK and Ireland, so we have close links with leading global manufacturers and dealers across the country. We aim to empower our partners with efficiency throughout the supply chain and add competitive an edge to their operation.

**VOW Ireland** is the first-choice wholesaler of business supplies in Ireland. We offer choice, flexibility, and an outstanding customer experience. We deliver goods, duty paid, next day with a dedicated transport team offering full traceability.
Banner is a leading workplace solution provider, supporting organisations across the UK and Ireland with compliant, sustainable, and cost-effective products and services. We excel at simplifying supply chains, consolidating business needs, and creating a superior experience for our customers across the public and private sectors. Our experts work collaboratively with our customers