About the role

We are currently looking for a Buyer for our Academic client based in Newcastle Upon Tyne to join a new growing team.

Salary - £21,389 - £23,407

Purpose of the role:

Responsible for providing a professional, customer-focused and effective buying service ensuring that relevant Financial Regulations are adhered to.

To support a fast-paced and busy working environment as part of the wider Procurement team you will have the ability to work well with others, and to plan and prioritise your own work. You will also be able to effectively work in finance systems, interact with IT, Legal and other Services who have a role in the procurement process, analyse data and maintain appropriate digital records which relate to activities undertaken.

This role requires high attention to detail and working with colleagues to support their requirements while remaining complaint with all relevant policies.

Main Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the purchasing process from receipt of requirements to placement of the purchase order ensuring that all relevant approvals are in place while continuing to keep the customer from Faculty or Service up to date on the status of their request. This may include:
  • Executing the purchase request in the purchasing system using existing suppliers, catalogues, or punch-outs
  • Requesting a quotation from a preferred supplier or undertaking a 3-quote process where appropriate
  • Handing over more complex, higher risk or strategic purchasing requests to more senior members of the Procurement Team
  • Identifying where additional approvals (for example from Legal, IT, HR, Marketing or Finance) are needed before proceeding with the purchase request and coordinating these until approved
  • Ensuring proof of relevant approvals is evidenced in all purchasing requests
• Run regular and ad hoc contract renewals reports, coordinate the renewal of small contracts with the relevant service owners in Faculty / Service and provide the data for complex and larger renewals to the relevant members of the Procurement Team
• Support the Category Managers and Category Specialists in running the Supplier Relationship Management processes for their selected contracts by running reports, providing data and populating performance dashboards, setting up and attending meetings and preparing meeting notes and actions.
• Support Department Administrator and colleagues in Shared Service to ensure their activity is compliant with the relevant regulations

Required Experience:

• Detailed understanding of procurement processes and experience in facilitating complex approval processes as required by defined policies and regulations
• Experience of delivery operational purchasing support, including taking ownership of obtaining approval from all relevant approval groups (IT, Legal, HR, Marketing and Finance) as appropriate
• Experience in dealing with suppliers on a transactional level, requesting quotations and negotiating pricing on these
• Understanding of Supplier Relationship Management processes and have contributed to these
• Experience in contract renewal processes of low value/risk/complexity

If you’re interested in this role of Category Buyer, click ‘Apply Now’ and a member of our team will be in touch.