Here at VeeTee, we are driven by a passion for high quality, great taste and pioneering innovation. We are a fast-growing food company based in Kent and pride ourselves on delivering an exceptional product to our vast cliental.

If you want to work for a dynamic business, with entrepreneurial spirit and a strong track record of developing people to enhance their careers then please read on.

Job Purpose:

The purchasing of all raw materials to service production operations for our branded range, controlling stock levels onsite and at third party storage and general tasks within a busy purchasing and supply chain department.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities:

• The planning and placing of purchase orders for raw materials and packaging to meet forecasted demand (from domestic and global supply base)
• Setting parameters and controlling minimum and maximum stock levels of all materials onsite (including over 50+ different ingredients)
• Assisting with negotiations on prices for raw materials and blanket order purchasing to obtain preferential pricing
• Building strong relationships with suppliers through a pleasant and amiable demeanour to aid negotiations and secure preferred trading terms
• Assisting with packaging contracts and interpreting terms and conditions of trade and requesting amends to clauses
• Understanding market conditions for raw materials being purchased, and how availability, crop and seasonality can affect pricing - through monitoring indices
• Liaising with external suppliers to ensure OTIF deliveries and raising complaints/queries on product issues as and when required e.g. damages/shortages
• Sourcing secondary suppliers for all ingredients for contingency and following the Technical approval process
• Assisting in monthly stock takes of raw materials and finished goods
• Checking and matching up of invoices with delivery paperwork and raising price related queries/disputes
• Co-ordinating shipments to the USA and conducting conference calls to our USA team to provide updates
• Purchasing new ingredients for NPD department trials and project work for meeting new launch dates – will require sourcing new suppliers
• Managing third party warehouse providers to ensure stock levels are maintained and stock transfers planned regularly to avoid shortages
• Creation of Microsoft Axapta reports and Excel planning spreadsheets to improve order efficiency and analysis
• Analysis of supplier service levels and rectifying service failures
• Keeping an up to date log of all supplier contact details, products, pricing agreements and update when changes are made
• Prepare ad hoc reports and presentations required by the business
• Attend food and packaging exhibitions from time to time
• Liaise daily with internal departments including NPD, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Technical, Operations
• Any other reasonable duties, responsibility or requests that may be issued by management from time to time

Person Specification:

Experience:
• A 2:1 degree (or equivalent) or above, within a business or appropriate related subject
• CIPS qualification (or equivalent) is desirable but not essential
• Recent experience working within a purchasing or supply chain role, desirable
• Excellent working knowledge of managing data through Excel
• Previous exposure to ERP systems
• Previous experience procuring ingredients and packaging is desirable although not essential as full training will be provided

Knowledge:
• Good IT skills, proficient in MS Office suite – mainly Excel and Outlook but including Word, PowerPoint and Access databases
• Purchasing and supply chain processes and the enthusiasm to enhance knowledge

Skills:
• The role demands accuracy and attention to detail so excellent communication (both written and verbal), numerical and analytical skills are all essential
• Organisational skills and able to prioritise own workload
• The ideal candidate will be innovative and a solution finder
• Self-motivated, ability to work on own initiative and a good team player
• Positive attitude and adaptable to any environment
• Comfortable working under pressure
• Negotiation skills
• Have a genuine passion for purchasing and supply chain with the drive to learn and progress within the role