We are looking for a Plant Buyer to join our team in Queensferry. The role purpose will be to provide a comprehensive, best value materials planning and procurement service to KINE (Knauf Insulation Northern Europe) client functions in the Queensferry Plant. Build and maintain strong relationships across the wider business and with external parties. To ensure procurement procedures are followed and maintained.   

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Autonomously lead tactical Purchasing and Material Planning activity at the Plant, with support when required.

• Accurately schedule and manage the supply of specific raw materials, consumables, pallets, services and spare parts to meet production requirements and optimal stock levels.

• Support the regional Materials Planner in ensuring packaging levels are optimised to support Plant production requirements.

• Manage specific SAP invoice workflows to ensure timely supplier due payments.

• Preparation, issue and maintenance of SAP purchase orders and material call-offs

• Develop, implement and maintain Purchasing and Material Planning processes in line with regional and central Purchasing and Supply Chain policy.

• To offer innovative and experiential input towards increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Purchasing and Material Planning processes.

• Support the appraisal of existing and candidate key supplier capabilities in line with the company audit and on-boarding processes.

• Participate in specific Queensferry Plant activities, strategies, initiatives and development.

• Play an active role within the site-specific management of change process (e.g. new product introduction trials).

• Support raw material visual spot checks ensuring plant efficiencies due to regular changing batch levels for specific product manufacturing.

• Develop and maintain strong, value-adding relationships with internal stakeholders and third parties.

• As part of the Plant Management Team - challenge, engage and receive / provide constructive feedback.

• Arrange and attend plant and off-site meetings with internal and external stakeholders – sometimes outside the UK.

Knowledge, Experience & Attributes

Essential

• High level of experience in managing stock levels for direct and indirect materials

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Able to work autonomously, quickly, accurately and to tight deadlines

• P-2-P & E-procurement experience

• Highly experienced in the use of SAP MM

• Positive attitude to change

• Experience of Purchasing in a busy manufacturing environment

• Proactive and creative in finding solutions that will positively impact the organisation

• Excellent level of MS Office proficiency - Excel (e.g. pivots, lookups), Outlook, Word

• Highly numerate with demonstrable analytical skills

• Strong organisation and time management ability

• Demonstrable high levels of initiative

• Attention to Detail, Tenacity & Problem Solving

• Flexible and adaptable

• Team worker

• High levels of integrity

• Results Driven

• Determination, resilience and courage

• Private sector manufacturing experience

• Able to cope with high degrees of autonomy and responsibility

Desirable

• Awareness of lean manufacturing and CI techniques Awareness of lean manufacturing and CI techniques

• Experience of being part of a management team

Salary & Benefits

• £36 - 40k per annum depending on experience

• 10% annual performance related bonus

• Holiday allowance

• Pension scheme

• Westfield Health Care

• Sick pay (after 3 months of service)

• Life assurance scheme

• Occupational Health & Mental Health First Aiders

• Perkbox

• Cycle to work scheme

Knauf Insulation

 Knauf Insulation is the UK’s leading provider of high performance, sustainable Glass and Rock Mineral Wool insulation solutions. With more than 40 years of experience in the insulation industry, it is one of the fastest growing and most respected names in insulation worldwide.

As part of the Knauf Group, a €10bn turnover multi-national family-owned manufacturer of building materials and construction systems, Knauf Insulation employs more than 5,500 employees and has 27 manufacturing sites in 15 countries, with a turnover of €2bn in 2019. In the UK, the company employs over 500 people at its manufacturing plants in Cwmbran, Queensferry and St Helens.

Knauf Insulation’s mission is to challenge conventional thinking and create innovative insulation solutions that shape the way we live and build in the future, with care for the people who make them, the people who use them and the world we all depend on.

Its vision is to lead the change in smarter insulation solutions for a better world. Its aspiration is to be the world’s most trusted insulation partner providing high performing and smart insulation solutions and services for a better world.