Buyer - Trader

We are a growing Pharmaceutical business based in Newry, Co Down. We are currently seeking an office-based buyer/trader, with experience purchasing pharmaceutical and related products.

Position:                              Buyer/Trader

Reporting to:                     General Manager

The Role:                            The buyer will be responsible for sourcing products, negotiating supply agreements with pharmaceutical suppliers and liaising with internal stakeholders to ensure products are available to meet our demand needs.

Job responsibilities:

Managing & developing supplier relationships 

• The relationships we enjoy with our suppliers, are well established and greatly valued. In this position, you will play a key role in developing a deeper relationship with current suppliers, ensuring that we are sourcing the optimum product range at the best possible price across our portfolio and assessing other product opportunities carried by the same suppliers that may be of interest and value to our product portfolio.

• You will have an opportunity to visit suppliers and attend trade shows so that you can identify key players in the market, establish contacts and develop rapport with our suppliers and logistics partners.

Sourcing new products

• You will continue to grow your knowledge base of the various industry suppliers in the market, and their product suite, assessing what new product lines are appropriate and of interest to our customers and developing a good understanding of future trends and buying practices in the market.

• Identifying potential new suppliers and working with our Quality team to bring these new suppliers on board.

• Working closely with our export customers to find new product opportunities.

Contributing to the ongoing development of process improvement within the department, and the various administrative tasks.

• Placing orders with suppliers ensuring maximum stock availability in line with our target stock levels and expiry date policies.

• Generating and inputting purchase orders onto our Sage IT system

• Amending / updating stock items on our Sage IT system.

• Responding to queries from other departments in relation to stock and pricing.

• Preparation of reports for weekly and monthly department meetings.

• Bringing forward best practice ideas and procedures and contributing to smart ways of working within the group.

Collaboration with internal stakeholders within the group such as Sales, Production, Quality and Regulatory Affairs to advice on stock availability.

• Managing the flow of goods from suppliers to the facility and managing the stock through the facility so ready in a timely manner.

• Resolving pricing and quantity discrepancies with Goods Inwards and Finance.

• Arranging and co-ordinating transport and collection arrangements for all goods ordered.

You will also have an opportunity to get involved and contribute to other adhoc tasks and projects that are of interest to the purchasing and supplier management process.

What you will bring to the role and your key competencies:

• Strong negotiations capability with proven experience of working to tight deadlines.

• While supplier management is a key capability, it is not critical to have knowledge of the pharma sector, as the necessary industry training and support will be provided.

• Excellent attention to detail and general understanding of supply chain processes and the associated metrics that need to be monitored.

• A strong IT and systems capability, with particular emphasis on Excel, Sage and MS office suite.

• A good team player with high energy who is motivated by the opportunity it brings to broaden your knowledge and skills in the pharma sector.

• An open and effective communicator, interested in contributing to the success of the department, and driving forward smart working models and process improvement.

• You will have 2+ years experience of working in a purchasing, procurement or buying department in a fast paced environment, where you had an opportunity to gain a broad understanding of all related procurement and supply chain processes.