Role Overview
As an Indirect Purchasing Buyer, you will manage procurement activities for indirect goods and services—primarily MRO and cutting tools—across regional plant locations. Your mission is to streamline supply processes, consolidate spending, and implement strategic sourcing initiatives that enhance profitability and operational efficiency, all in alignment with corporate purchasing policies.
Candidate Profile
GKN is looking for a skilled and strategic professional with the following qualifications :
- Bachelor’s degree in International Business, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or a related field
- Fluent in English (written and spoken)
- Minimum 3 years of purchasing experience in the automotive sector preferably.
- Strong cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills
- Proven negotiation expertise
- Demonstrated success in cost reduction and process improvement initiatives
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and MRP systems.
Key Responsibilities
Manage the Request for Quotation (RfQ) process for purchases within regional thresholds, including supplier selectionNegotiate shopping carts and create purchase orders within defined regional categories, value thresholds and adherence to corporate guidelinesSet up new vendors and submit new contract approvals for negotiated agreementsIdentify cost-saving opportunities through demand bundling, supplier substitution, and negotiation of payment terms, delivery schedules, and warranty extensionsHandle order confirmations for critical items (e.g., storeroom inventory), ensuring data accuracy and resolving discrepanciesLead escalation and problem-solving efforts to meet local operational goalsResolve invoice discrepancies related to pricingOversee automated replenishment processes for coded materialsSupport the development and adoption of electronic catalogs to reduce manual order processingMentor interns and support their developmentAnalyze purchasing processes and data to recommend improvementsManage contracts and understand commercial terms relevant to the country of operationAddress region-specific requirements such as tax regulations and contract complianceCollaborate with global and regional category teams