Category Buyer

​Position Description:

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

• No direct budget management responsibilities, but responsible for costs of the designated commodities and achievement of new model and project cost targets

The Opportunity:

• The Indirect Procurement (IP) Capital Equipment team is responsible for the procurement of all client manufacturing and testing facilities including Trim & Final Assembly, Paint, Body in White, Stamping Dies, Engines, Electric Propulsion and Product Validation.  

• This role has Global responsibility for procuring capital equipment across all JLR facilities worldwide taking responsibility for sourcing, as well as associated contract management and supplier relationship management. The role requires a high level of interaction with internal stakeholders and external suppliers for stamping dies.  The successful candidate will need to be a flexible team player, with good communication skills, a high degree of commercial acumen and good technical aptitude.

 Personal Profile:

• An enthusiastic individual who is able to deliver results in a complex, highly demanding environment.

• A pro-active and resilient individual who has a continuous learning mindset

• An effective communicator with the desire to influence cross-functionally

• A team player who actively develops and supports team members

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Your accountabilities will include, but not limited to:

Strategy & Sourcing:

• Responsible for Strategic Category Plan (SCP) creation and delivery

• Delivering sourcing in line with policy and to agreed targets through the Global Sourcing Process (GSP) and deploying Total Cost of Ownership approach

• Leading complex supplier negotiations including legal and financial approval pre-Contract / Purchase Order, engaging specialist teams and Global Purchasing Finance

• Responsible for delivering against savings programme targets (value-add and budgetary savings)

  Contract & Supplier Relationship Management:

• Working with Stakeholders and Finance to operate the contract management governance

• Responsible for managing dispute resolution process

• Change management of the contracts and Purchase Orders

• Support Financial reconciliation activities, as required

• Contract audit/reviews in line with requirements

• Ensuring the Supplier Relationship Management and Supplier Performance Management processes are carried out effectively

• Responsible for organising and conducting the Supplier business reviews, capture the minutes and actions and work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to complete the actions

  Knowledge, Skills and Experience:   

Essential:

• An individual who is results driven, demonstrates, tenacity, drive and perseverance, with the ability to deliver in a complex, highly demanding environment.

• Degree qualified or equivalent experience preferred

• Commercial Awareness and Negotiation skills

• Understand category management principles

• Strategic thinking

• Global business understanding and experience

• Operational Contract Management experience

• Relationship management - internal and external

• Category knowledge and demonstrated experience within Stamping Dies

• Flexibility and agility to be able to adjust to changing business needs

Desirable:

• Experience within an Automotive OEM or Supplier (Preferably stampings)

• Category knowledge and demonstrated experience with Stamping Dies or BiW

• Previous supplier experience within category

• Technical understanding of automotive stampings and BiW assembly

• Relevant professional qualification