Buyer – Protein
Are you an experienced food procurement professional?
I’m on the hunt for a skilled Protein Buyer to join our dynamic purchasing team. Experience within chilled food manufacturing or fresh meat supply is preferred but not essential. The Protein Buyer will be responsible for purchasing predominantly poultry but other protein categories may be incorporated.
Key accountabilities
▪ Implement the company buying strategy for their categories.
▪ To directly agree prices, volumes and specifications with suppliers for raw materials
▪ Manage supplier performance and ensure they are hitting requisite services levels and targeted KPIs.
▪ Present market data to the wider business and customers
▪ Play an integral role in the preparation of customer tenders, providing forward pricing indications for raw materials within the set deadlines
▪ Identifying risks within the supply chain and making recommendations
▪ All individuals are expected to maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and participate in appropriate learning and development activities
Freedom to make decisions
▪ The role will have autonomy in daily decision-making and will draw on their commercial expertise to make judgements and identify opportunities.
▪ They will be expected to operate within established protocols.
Leadership capabilities - appropriate level for role is selected and added below Consumer Led and Customer Focused
▪ Develops a good understanding of the breadth of customers supplied and differing requirements. Share knowledge directly as appropriate Proactive Thinking
▪ Consider options / alternatives outside of the norm
▪ Fosters deep relationships with current and potential suppliers Working with Others
▪ Shows proactive interest in the work of others and how it relates to own area. Shares best practice and resources and offers support and feedback to ensure shared goals are achieved. Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural difference. Develops strong networks inside and outside the organisation Managing Self
▪ Understands the impact of own strengths and limitations on own performance. Proactively plans ways to address own development gaps using a variety of resources.
▪ Plans how to make required change happen and supports others through uncertainty and ambiguity, recognising and responding to different needs. Bounces back from setbacks and difficult situations and looks for different ways to do things. Focus on Results
▪ Considers end to end cost requirements
▪ Manages stock holding in conjunction with planning & supply chain team
Key experience, knowledge and skills
▪ 5 years buying experience within a food purchasing role, ideally poultry. Experience within chilled food manufacturing/fresh meat supply is preferred.
▪ Educated to degree level/CIP qualified preferred but not essential with relevant experience
▪ Strong negotiation skills
▪ Detailed understanding of product and material costings
▪ Effective presentation skills, both written and spoken to internal and external contacts
▪ Accuracy on own research and presented findings
▪ Good general purchasing practices on goods and services
▪ The ability to work on own initiative with a flexible & open approach is essential as the product range within this remit is diverse.
▪ Ability to problem solve, in a proactive nature -to identify and resolve supply issues
▪ Holding a full driving licence is essential and a flexible approach to travel in the UK and occasionally abroad is required
▪ A track record of successful project management
This role will be well suited to you if you have previously had a role within procurement or purchasing as a Procurement Manager, Purchasing Manager, Procurement Lead, Procurement Team Leader, Lead Buyer or Purchasing Team Leader.