Project Assistant (Buyer) Who are we? First Subsea, based in Lancaster and part of the First Tech Group, has gone through a major transition in the last five years, transitioning from oil and gas projects to offshore renewables projects where we supply a range of bespoke and patented products, such as; lifting and recovery tools, and cable protection systems. All our products are designed, assembled and tested in-house and we have recently opened a dedicated manufacturing & production facility for our cable protection systems. As demand has grown for the products and services provided by First Subsea, the need for talented people has also grown in parallel. First Tech Group companies include First Marine Solutions, First Integrated Solutions, First Subsea, Tusk Lifting, First Competence, North Sea Compactors, Mooring Systems based in Aberdeen, Montrose, Glasgow, Liverpool, Teesside, Hull and Lancaster, with a headcount of around 300 staff. The Role? Due to continued growth we are seeking an experienced Project Buyer to join our Projects team based in Lancaster. Responsible for the management and planning the purchasing requirements for the Project department. Whilst assisting to report; cash flow management, delivery management, scheduling and expediting to relevant stakeholders the successful candidate will have experience within a similar role, hold excellent verbal and written communication skills and be a strong team player. Liaise with multiple Project Managers, collating and addressing their procurement needs. Liaise with Operations to ensure internal schedules are maintained. Centralising Purchasing from across various Projects and optimising; cost, lead-time, schedules, supplier loading, etc. Responsible for facilitating and communication across the engineering functions to ensure that the project deliverables are met and maintained. Responsible for supplier development and selection in accordance with company procedures. Lead commercial and technical negotiations with suppliers to ensure best value of equipment purchased. Including payment terms and purchase order coverage. Build supplier relationships and long terms agreements; VDA’s etc. Actively control the supply chain including financial, technical, schedule, commercial & contract requirements. Assist Project Managers to mitigate project risk where possible. Responsible for supporting cost control, cash flow and forecasting activities in accordance with individual project requirements and company procedures. Responsible for scheduling and expediting, in the absence of an ERP / MRP system. Responsible for tracking, managing and negotiating change and amendment related to individual Pos. Responsible for monitoring supplier performance evaluation, raising any concerns with the relevant teams in accordance with company procedures. Assist to procure consumables as required in accordance with company procedures. Assist with any other duties as and when required. Your Qualifications & Experience Essential: Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project experience preferred Significant experience within a similar role. Purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment. Preferred: SAGE 50 experience. Purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment. You are? Excellent negotiation skills E xcellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to prioritise a competing workload Good Organisational and administrative skills. A bility to work independently in challenging circumstances and use initiative to propose and implement changes to work practices. A team player, with the ability to work independently. Motivated with a good work ethic.