Category Buyer

Responsible for providing a professional, customer-focused and effective buying service for the assigned categories and category specialist support to the Category Manager, ensuring that relevant Financial Regulations are adhered to.

To support a fast-paced and busy working environment as part of the wider Procurement team you will have the ability to work well with others, and to plan and prioritise your own work. You will also be able to effectively work in finance systems, interact with IT, Legal and other Services who have a role in the procurement process, analyse data and maintain appropriate digital records which relate to activities undertaken.

This role requires high attention to detail and working with colleagues across the University to support their requirements while remaining complaint with all relevant policies.

The main duties and responsibilities will be as follows:

• Provide operational support to the Category Manager with category specialist purchases and requests
• Facilitate the purchasing process from receipt of requirements to placement of the purchase order ensuring that all relevant approvals are in place for the assigned categories while continuing to keep the customer from Faculty or Service up to date on the status of their request. This may include:
  • Requesting a quotation from a preferred supplier or undertaking a 3-quote process for specialist purchases not currently covered by a contract, catalogue or punchout
  • Assisting the Category Manager with more complex, higher risk or strategic purchasing requests
  • Identifying where additional approvals (for example from Legal, IT, HR, Marketing or Finance) are needed before proceeding with the purchase request and coordinating these until approved
  • Ensuring proof of relevant approvals is evidenced in all purchasing requests
• Run regular and ad hoc contract renewals reports, coordinate the renewal of assigned category contracts with the relevant service owners in Faculty / Service and assist the Category Manager with more complex and larger renewals.
• Support the Category Managers in running the Supplier Relationship Management processes for their selected contracts by running reports, providing data and populating performance dashboards, setting up and attending meetings and preparing meeting notes and actions.
• Support Department Administrators and colleagues in Shared Service to ensure their activity is compliant with the relevant regulations
• Support the creation and maintenance of purchasing records with the wider Finance Team.