Buyer - Optimal Staffing

Job Overview

Purchase goods, materials, and services to ensure that the company's operational needs are met, considering price, quality, and delivery and ensuring supply continuity. The job holder may take responsibility for a specific project or hold a larger purchasing responsibility role.

About the Company

Optimal-EV is bolting into the commercial EV sector with industry-leading performance, features, comfort, and durability. We integrate the best components through world-class partnerships. The Optimal-EV advantage ensures your zero-emission commercial or shuttle bus fleets exceed expectations and deliver an unparalleled experience for companies, transit agencies, and passengers alike.

Responsibilities for Buyer / Supply Chain

• Purchase goods, materials, components, or services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets
• Ensure continuous supply of required goods and materials and communicate any supply problems that may pose a risk or impact on business operations
• Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance, and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement
• Assess and evaluate suppliers and undertake performance reviews to ensure contract compliance and manage performance improvement activities
• Ensure that a professional and consistent approach is taken in relation to all supplier relationships
• Ensure compliance with company guidelines, purchasing policies, and procedures
• Explore alternate sources for goods and materials
• Assess tenders and quotations from potential suppliers
• Prepare purchase orders in line with final negotiations with selected suppliers and in line with organizational targets and requirements
• Work collaboratively and negotiate and engage with stakeholders and suppliers regarding new projects, supplies and initiatives and advise of the impact of change on purchasing and production activities
• Stay current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products and materials and advise others of any impact
• Support product change requests and review and communicate the impact on capacity plans
• Build, maintain and manage supplier relationships and ensure good communications

Qualifications for Buyer / Supply Chain

• Highly skilled at building and maintaining effective and productive relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers
• Strong negotiation, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Analytical numerically astute with strong, proven problem-solving abilities
• Results-orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines
• Commercially and financially aware
• Attention to detail and accuracy. A Relevant business/commercial or manufacturing/engineering degree is preferred
• Proven purchasing experience, preferably within an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Ability to add value, reduce costs, and make business improvements
• Contract management and supplier experience
• Project management experience
• Strong technical knowledge and understanding of automotive processes and components and supply chain management
• Computer literate, including advanced Excel skills