Job summary
The role of the Buyer is to support the Senior Buyer and Category Manager in managing and administering assigned business areas to increase spend under management and deliver best practice procurement services to both internal and external customers. The Buyer will have responsibility for delivering compliant end-to-end procurement activity, implementing and managing supplier and member contracts and analysing statistical and financial information within their category area. The
role requires the development of key relationships with suppliers and customers and the implementation and management of contracts within the assigned category, specifically focusing on commercial and customer benefits.

Person specification:
The Buyer will have the drive to achieve results in a friendly manner but at the same time maintain quality and standards. They will have the ability to absorb and impart factual information to others and work within standard operating procedures. This person will be an effective communicator, will enjoy challenging situations and will have a systematic and perfectionist approach to problem solving. The Buyer will be positive, participative, self-confident, friendly, self-starting, competitive, inquisitive, imaginative, factual, consistent, somewhat conventional and self-disciplined.

Principle Duties

• Deliver tendering and other procurement processes in line with both departmental and category targets and required EU regulations, ensuring tendering timetables for the category are adhered to;
• Ability to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of customer requirements from the outset and provide strategic advice to support their objectives;
• Effectively highlight opportunities and risks;
• Manage the delivery of appropriate services such as, but not limited to, mini competitions, core price list reviews/amendments, call-off contract terms and ongoing framework management;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of category strategies aligned to market
  developments and member requirements to drive increased spend under management;
• Offer regular input to the Procurement Management Team;
• Implement and manage individual Framework Strategies to assist in the achievement of
  financial performance and growth;
• Continually review the markets, undertake competitive analysis and research innovations in the category areas they’re responsible for;
• Develop and maintain continuous engagement with suppliers on behalf of Inprova and its customers, including management of projects with suppliers, leading supplier review meetings and handling disputes;
• To develop and maintain efficient and effective engagement with Inprova customers through face to face meetings, phone and email;
• Maintain the commercial and operational performance of each contract within the assigned category, with particular emphasis on customer retention, growth in spend, revenue and trading customers;
• To understand the legal and operational imperatives of each contract they administer;
• To support and develop marketing and communication plans, as well as sales activity, to assist the growth and development of specific category plans;
• Carry out auditing and analysis of data generated by Inprova’s payment systems and other sources;
• Preparing reports for internal use as well as for members and suppliers;
• Measure performance against financial targets;
• Support the work of other staff in the department;
• Promote Inprova Group’s corporate values to staff, customers and suppliers;
• Undertake such training as may be reasonably required to maintain an appropriate level of technical competence for the post.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Education to degree level or equivalent experience preferred;
• Excellent time management and organisational skills;
• Strong communication skills;
• Experience of managing (procurement consortium) projects and contracts;
• Experienced in developing strong supplier and customer relationships;
• Experience of multiple procurement activities including knowledge of EU Procurement regulations;
• Relevant commercial and sector focus;
• A full driving license would be desirable.

Key competencies: organisational

• Be passionate and motivated
• Put people first
• Lead by example
• Stay one step ahead

Job specific

• Efficient and effective communication to be delivered via telephone, emails, reports and site visits as appropriate;
• Teamwork and collaboration;
• Ability to offer advice to others within the department;
• Accountability and responsibility for specific framework categories and associated spend and financial targets;
• Effective management of customer and supplier relationships;
• Strong planning and organisation skills;
• Confident and self-motivating;
• Ability to further develop knowledge of framework procurement activity, tendering and contracting processes;
• Competent in the application of a range of market analysis techniques, whether numerical,
  contextual, empirical or subjective.
• Confident and competent user of Excel and its advanced functionality, such as experience in
  the use of pivot tables and reporting as a minimum, and ideally VBA, macros and data
  tables.
• Confidence to carry out market research and analysis applying findings to the role and tasks
  at hand;
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail whilst working in a fast-paced environment;
• Open-minded to continuous learning and development within the role.