Buyer - Fixed Term Contract

Job Description

Job Title:                                     Buyer – Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Department:                                UK Purchasing & Inventory Management

Reports To:                                  Purchasing Manager

Location:                                      Gillingham

Overview:

This role is responsible for inventory management practices at Henry Schein UK, ensuring high quality for our customers whilst providing organisational profitability. The role holder will be involved in the management of our stocked items and the procurement and replenishment of products. The role sits within a busy team, and is supported by a team of Purchasing Assistants and works alongside other buying professionals. The role holder must be highly detail orientated, with a track record of creating cost savings and process innovation. The demands of the position are fast paced, and although supported by a team, the role holder must be able to work autonomously to effectively support our wider supply chain.

Job Responsibilities:

The role holder will be expected to be responsible for the following:

• Maintain Fill Rate for Stocked lines at or above set goal of 98+% by ensuring effective replenishment through consistent open order book management

• Manage customer back orders by working in conjunction with Purchasing Assistants to correct supply chain on advance notification of a potential issue, continuing the resolution if the product does back order. At all times ensuring good quality communication occurs within the business to maximise customer service.

• Maintain E3 parameters to ensure cost effective placement of orders on a daily basis to meet service and profit requirements

• Attain Key Metrics as defined by the department lead related to E3 and order book maintenance

• Actively seek best pricing through negotiation, market awareness and price list management

• Negotiate and monitor vendor rebates to ensure correct accrual decisions are made and rebates maximised without compromising working capital

• Ensure that all relevant supplier details and product price information is accurately maintained on the appropriate system, working closely with the IM Gatekeepers to ensure all price lists are updated on a timely basis enabling the correct forward buy investment to be made

• Ensure Freight costs are managed to optimise costs for the supply chain, working to best practice guidelines as defined by the department lead

• Control inventory levels through focused activity on new item management, overstock management and maintenance of E3 parameters to ensure inventory accuracy levels are attained and working capital maximised

• Work with the Operations team to ensure smooth delivery of product to shelf and timely resolution of queries

• Constantly review and suggest improvements to processes to bring efficiencies/cost savings to the Supply Chain

• Develop supplier relationships and introduce measurement tools to improve supplier performance

• Develop internal relationships, influencing key internal customers to promote professional purchasing principals across the business ensuring timely communication and problem resolution.

• Progress and achieve set objectives as defined by the Department Head on a yearly basis

• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as required

• This role is extremely varied; therefore, the job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder will be required to participate in other duties as required by the business.

Job Skills & Experience Required:

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following:

Qualifications:

• Good standard of secondary education to A-Level or equivalent   

•  Purchasing, Supply Chain or Logistics Qualification desirable, but not required

• Accreditation on the Microsoft Office package suite desirable

Skill & Experience:

• Experience in a wholesale/distribution of FMCG procurement background

• Experience managing a range of suppliers and products

• Knowledge of the dental and healthcare sectors preferrable

• Adept at managing multiple priorities in a time sensitive environment

• Demonstrable process improvement examples

• A good understanding of P&L accounts

Person Specification:

We believe the type of person best suited to this role will be:

• Detail oriented with a preference for working to a high quality where technical expertise can be showcased

• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment

• An authoritative, quick decision maker, who’s comfortable working to policies, procedures, and quality guidelines

• Methodical, accurate and thorough

• Able to remain sceptical to identify process improvements

• Comfortable working autonomously

• A persuasive communicator, capable of negotiating and influencing vendors and third parties

Our benefits include:

• A competitive salary

• 25 days holiday a year, with ability to buy up to 5 days holiday each year

• Life Insurance

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Subsidised gym membership

• Access to Health & Wellbeing Apps

• Employee discounts

• A hybrid, flexible working culture