Job Description
Trainee Buyer
Location: Plymouth & Exeter
Package: Basic Salary up to £22,000 (dependent on experience)
Plus bonus/commission & other excellent PLC company benefits
Sector: Packaging distribution
The Company
We, the UK's largest packaging distributor have an exciting opportunity for a Trainee Buyer to join our local procurement team based across our Plymouth & Exeter offices. We are a committed equal opportunities employer that champions 'dignity in the workplace'. Our focus is to provide customers with fully integrated and innovative packaging solutions, augmented by outstanding customer service. Our procurement functionality is a vital part of our solution offering and we continually invest in the professional development of our team including professional accredited training.
The Trainee Buyer Role
Working as a member of our regional procurement team, your role will support both Plymouth & Exeter sites, whilst upholding the company wide National procurement strategy.
Within this role you will gain varied exposure to wider procurement tasks and scenarios whilst primarily focusing on ensuring that correct stock levels are ordered and held for customers. Please note it is an operational requirement that you will be based on occasions at both the Plymouth & Exeter sites, so a willingness to travel and potentially work at either of our locations as required is crucial.
Trainee Buyer Key Duties
Reporting to the Commercial Manager, the role will require the following activity…
- Directly supporting the local team of buyers with day-to-day procurement activity
- To purchase standard and non-standard stock items, maintaining cost effective stock levels
- Develop a full understanding of the total supply chain function
- Actively seek to reduce stock holing and material costs
- To ensure that purchasing transactions are carried out in the timeliest and cost-effective manner
- Administer purchase orders and all other associated administration
- Liaise with existing suppliers and source alternative suppliers when necessary
- Develop awareness of the profit implication of stock holding costs, including redundant and damaged stock
- Develop and maintain a good knowledge of all packaging solutions
We certainly welcome your application if you have gained experience of working within a commercial environment and can demonstrate transferable skills including negotiation, communication, and customer service. Please note that no prior experience within procurement or purchasing is necessary as full training and a clear pathway for development will be provided. It would obviously be helpful if you have a genuine interest in pursuing a career path within purchasing/procurement. As a minimum requirement, we do also seek strong computer literacy (MS Office to include Excel spreadsheets) & strong attention to detail. Finally, as mentioned above, this role will be based across both sites, so we require applicants to be located (ideally) somewhere within a reasonable 'travel to work distance' of both locations (South Devon) and to have their own mode of transport.
Our Benefits
We provide a competitive basic starting salary and operate a range of rewarding bonus/incentive schemes. Our flexible employee benefits can include: -
25 days annual leave (rising to 27 days with service) plus all public/bank holidays
Contributory pension scheme
Free parking at many of our site locations
Range of company cars or cash allowance (including electric) for qualifying roles
Employee assistance program to support & advise with well-being & any issues
Extensive range of training/development & potential progression opportunities
Employee discount scheme (discounts on several major retail/leisure brands)
Simply Health/Dental Cover option or BUPA cover for qualifying roles
Tax free childcare (TFC) scheme
Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
Long service awards (5-40 years)
Charitable giving options
Financial support with eye-tests/purchasing glasses (DSE users only)
O2 Mobile discount scheme (up to 25% off)
Candidate referral scheme (awards £750 for referring successful applicants to Macfarlane job vacancies)
Macfarlane Group is also dedicated to maximizing every employee's potential, by providing career development plans and pathways in an environment that fosters personal growth and continuous improvement.
Next Steps
This is an urgent appointment whereby we will be working to identify and review the very best of applicants swiftly in the hope of selecting our favored candidate to commence with us ASAP. (Please note we are holding zoom video-interviews during the pandemic). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are continuing to adhere to Government guidelines whereby a significant number of our employees are working from home for the time being. Dependent on the precise role you have applied for, it is important to note that this may be a feature of your initial employment with us until Government advice changes and the situation improves. To make an application please simply click 'apply' ensuring that your CV is up to date and relevant. All applications will be acknowledged, shortlisted applicants normally hearing from us within a week or two. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified at the end of our process, although if you haven't heard from us within a fortnight of applying, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
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