Technical Buyer

The role:

Royal IHC UK is looking for an experienced Technical Engineering Buyer to join our Supply Chain team.

You will be responsible for sourcing, procuring and expediting technically complex components, equipment, fabrications and subcontracted services for engineering and manufacturing projects.

Working closely with Engineering, Project Management, Production, Quality and Logistics, you will manage procurement activities from initial RFQ through supplier selection, purchase order placement, manufacture, expediting and final delivery.

You will be responsible for:

• Manage RFQs and procurement for engineered components, fabrications, mechanical and hydraulic equipment, electrical equipment and subcontracted services.
• Review engineering drawings, BOMs and technical specifications to understand procurement requirements.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations and complete commercial and technical bid comparisons.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, warranties and delivery conditions.
• Place and manage purchase orders in line with project requirements.
• Identify and manage long-lead and project-critical items.
• Expedite suppliers against agreed manufacturing and delivery milestones.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with UK and international suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness and technical capability.
• Work with Engineering and Quality to resolve NCRs, technical queries and supplier quality issues.
• Identify cost-reduction, value-engineering and alternative-sourcing opportunities.
• Manage procurement risks including supplier capacity, material availability, price escalation and long lead times.

• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, pricing and delivery information within the company's ERP/MRP system.

Job requirements:

• Previous experience as a Technical Buyer, Engineering Buyer, Project Buyer, Procurement Engineer or similar.
• Experience purchasing engineered components within an engineering, manufacturing, marine, offshore or heavy-engineering environment.
• The ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs and technical specifications.
• A good understanding of manufacturing processes such as fabrication, machining, hydraulics and/or electrical systems.
• Strong supplier negotiation and commercial-management skills.
• Experience managing suppliers against demanding project schedules.
• Good ERP/MRP and Microsoft Excel capability.
• Strong communication, analytical and stakeholder-management skills.

Desirable:

• CIPS qualification, or working towards CIPS.
• Marine, offshore, subsea, dredging, defence or heavy-engineering experience.
• International procurement and Incoterms experience.
• Supplier quality and NCR management experience.
• Previous experience using IFS ERP/MRP.