Manager, Materials Buyer

About the Role

Imagine leading the strategic sourcing engine that keeps materials flowing for the world's largest jewellery brand's production. If you thrive on turning market intelligence into procurement strategy while building strong supplier partnerships, then you might be our next Manager, Materials Buyer at Pandora Production.

Responsibilities

• Lead the purchasing process for materials, ensuring timely acquisition and delivery.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive material purchasing strategy aligned with the organization's goals and production requirements.
• Conduct regular assessments of market conditions and global trends to inform strategic purchasing decisions.
• Collaborate with the materials planning team to understand production forecasts and align material purchasing strategies accordingly.
• Implement data-driven demand forecasting methodologies to optimize inventory levels and reduce lead times.
• Utilize historical data and market intelligence to anticipate changes in demand and adjust procurement strategies proactively.
• Identify potential risks in the supply chain and develop risk mitigation strategies, establishing alternative sourcing options and contingency plans.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure a steady and reliable supply of materials.
• Monitor supplier performance and address any issues impacting material availability.
• Work closely with suppliers to address issues, resolve disputes, and improve overall performance.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and identify opportunities for collaboration and improvement.

Inventory Management

• Implement and maintain effective inventory control measures to minimize excess or obsolete stock.
• Ensure all activities of the buyer function have an optimized impact on inventory.
• Implement inventory management techniques such as just-in-time (JIT) inventory, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), or economic order quantity (EOQ) to minimize carrying costs while ensuring sufficient stock levels to meet demand.

Team Leadership

• Lead and manage a team of direct materials buyers, providing guidance, support, and training as needed.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
• Set performance goals for the team and monitor progress regularly.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, logistics, and finance, to align material management strategies with organizational goals.
• Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders to understand material requirements and address any issues.

Continuous Improvement

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives within the material management function to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Regularly review and optimize purchasing processes, identifying opportunities for automation and streamlining.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the team, encouraging the adoption of best practices and new technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; Industrial Engineering preferred.
• 5 years or more of work experience in material procurement or materials management.
• Strong stakeholder management skill is a must.
• Knowledge of material planning and purchasing regulations.
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
• Analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, effectively managing tasks under tight deadlines while maintaining a positive and solution-oriented attitude.
• Deep knowledge of inventory and supply chain management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and ERP systems (SAP, O9, Dynamics AX).
• Excellent English communication skills.
• Coaching skills; data analytics and Power BI skills; coding is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.