German Speaking Purchasing Manager

Job title: German Speaking Purchasing Manager – Fresh Produce

Start: ASAP

Location: Buckinghamshire

Contract: 3 months temporary project (With a possibility to extend)

Salary: £225 per day PAYE or £250 Ltd. basis

Global centralised service centre that acts as the purchasing ” hub” for clients within the food and drink sector . This organisation is a not-for-profit company and aims to get its retail store clients the best possible prices on food products in order to support them in growing and becoming successful.

You will be liaising with new and existing fresh produce suppliers to drive value, performance, and efficiency. It would suit someone with purchasing expertise within Fresh Produce.

Responsibilities

• Management of items within a Produce category, achieving supply chain optimisation, quality improvements, commodity risk management, contract negotiation and communication
• Applying category management tools to develop sourcing strategies as well as identifying opportunities to reduce total cost, in line with agreed business specifications
• Ensuring compliance to purchasing process on products, pricing, and contract management
• Supporting the development of the Managed Produce Programme across Europe and implementing strategies to improve Franchisee uptake
• Negotiating optimal terms for sourcing by understanding the trade-offs between cost, volume, and quality in order to strike agreements that satisfy Franchisee needs
• Selection and development of produce suppliers, growers, and processors in conjunction with the Quality Management team
• Working with Quality Management Team to ensure complaints are resolved quickly and a quality improvement plan is in place.
• Sourcing NPD items and working closely with the Product Management team to make sure they are delivered on time, on budget and to the required technical standards
• Managing long-term supplier improvement and relationship management, using scorecards and other appropriate tools
• Conducting regular visits to suppliers, growers, and processors to become an expert in the product area and ensure delivery of continuous improvement
• Ensuring product contingency is in place, for assured supply at all times
• Building relationships and strengthening communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Additional responsibility of local Purchasing Contact for other product areas as required. This will involve local sourcing as requested on other product categories

Requirements

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Fluency in German to native standard
• Experience working in a food or beverage purchasing role, preferably experience in purchasing fresh produce
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience of international and cross-cultural working
• Strong analytical, commercial and negotiation skills
• Experience working in a service-oriented organisation with demanding customers
• Ability to go out into the market, work to high standards, and adhere to agreed priorities, procedures, and processes

Personal qualities:

• Ability to deal with ambiguity and change whilst maintaining the tenacity and perseverance required to achieve the required objectives
• Flexibility and ability to deliver pragmatic solutions that work on the ground without compromising global guidelines
• Ability to work well in a category team environment drawing on different perspectives and skills to get to the best solution
• Ability to influence and drive behaviour changes from suppliers and other stakeholders
• Ability to collate, evaluate, manipulate, and draw conclusions from data, using this information to formulate strategies as appropriate
• Strong customer focus and service skills
• Assertiveness and ability to challenge and push back when appropriate, whilst maintaining a professional attitude