There is no other business quite like ours, we think this is a special place to work, even if we do say so ourselves! That means an opportunity like this is not to be missed.
We have been making life taste better since 1908. As well as our refreshingly different Vimto taste, our varied brand portfolio spans the still, carbonated, post-mix and frozen drinks categories – so you will find us in your local supermarket, pub and leisure outlet. We also work with the UK’s leading food manufacturers to provide a truly unique range of products everyone loves.
At the heart of everything is our rich family heritage, an unrelenting ambition to keep innovating, and a true pride in who we are.
It is our team of talented people that make us. We are actively looking for difference and we are working hard to make sure all our practices are inclusive.
We’re looking for a professional, confident and motivated Category Buyer to join our Procurement team on a 12 month fixed term contract.
The position is a brand-new role within Nichols, and the purpose is to support the Procurement Manager for Co-Manufacturing to reduce the total cost of ownership for Co-Manufacturing services, whilst ensuring appropriate levels of service and quality are maintained, with risks mitigated.
This is an exciting opportunity to work on a strategic category of spend for Nichols and get involved in a wide variety of projects and work with stakeholders across all functions.
ABOUT THE JOB;
- Support with managing the contractual supply relationship with all Nichols UK and, where required, International 3rd party manufacturing partners (co-manufacturers), ensuring that fit for purpose contract and service level agreements are in place where required.
- Support with analysis of cost drivers for negotiating cost of goods with 3rd party manufacturers and for annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting of co-manufacturing spend. Management of supplier price files and ensuring accuracy with Nichols internal files.
- Ensure all finished goods are sourced responsibly in line with Nichols Happier Future strategy and any customer / external regulatory requirements. Ensure that Co-Manufacturers selected to partner with Nichols can support Nichols in delivering its Happier Future programme.
- Support delivery of NPI projects with the Co-Manufacturers, including sourcing new suppliers where appropriate, to support the Nichols business strategy.
- Management of day-to-day issues with the Co-Manufacturers and supporting supply chain with resolving these issues.
- Work collaboratively on further development of Nichols supplier scorecard along with supporting data collation, analysis and reporting for Nichols Supplier Relationship Management programme.
- Embrace procurement systems, including e-procurement tools, to develop the reporting and analysis of procurement performance, demonstrating the value-added vs the external environment. In particular, monitoring, analysing and reporting on commodities that will impact co-manufacturing costs (e.g. energy, labour).
- Work closely with Nichols and co-manufacturers procurement functions to ensure best practice procurement decisions are being made on ingredient and packaging items used in manufacturing of Nichols finished goods.
- Resolve any problems (internally and externally) associated with finished goods procurement in a fair and ethical way whilst protecting the long-term interests of Nichols PLC.
- Analysis of cost of goods to support with business decision making whilst working collaboratively with stakeholders to understand impact on total cost of ownership.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED;
- Previous Procurement experience gained in an FMCG or Manufacturing environment
- Degree qualified or working towards a professional qualification e.g. CIPS
- Strong analytical skills
ABOUT YOU;
- You embrace collaborative working with stakeholders across the business to deliver success
- You are a self-starter with plenty of motivation and a ‘can do’ attitude
- You are comfortable operating with ambiguity and uncertainty
- Passionate about finding a better way, continuing to drive improvements
- Looking to work in a people-centric environment, focussed on doing the right thing
- Good attention to detail and able to turn numbers into the ‘so-what’ and communicate with stakeholders at all levels
No matter where you work in our business you will be entitled to the following; these are just some of our perks and benefits;
- 25 days holiday (with opportunity to buy extra every year)
- Private medical cover
- Your birthday off work
- 1 day a year off work to volunteer in the community (you choose)
- A generous pension scheme
Join us and #findyourdifferent
While our people tell us Nichols plc is a great place to work, we know we can do more. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and are learning what this means every day.
We are striving to ensure we are building more diverse teams, we are at our best when we bring together our different life experiences, ways of thinking and individuality.
Any job offer is subject to an individual’s Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas.