Purchasing Assistant

The Purchasing Assistant / Junior Buyer supports the Procurement function by executing daytoday purchasing activities managing supplier interactions and ensuring timely availability of materials required for electronic manufacturing operations.

The role involves working with ERP &  MRP systems (specifically Glovia) and crossfunctional teams to maintain optimal inventory levels support costreduction initiatives and uphold supplier performance standards.

Procurement & Purchasing Activities

• Monitor PO confirmations shipment dates and delivery schedules; follow up with suppliers as needed to ensure ontime delivery.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data pricing lead times and material master information in SAP.
• Assist with sourcing low to mediumvalue components consumables and indirect materials.
• Support costreduction initiatives by collecting price data analysing supplier quotes and preparing comparison reports.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP) Support

• Review MRP exceptions and system messages; take action to expedite reschedule or cancel orders.
• Work closely with production planners to resolve shortages delays or unexpected material demands.
• Monitor inventory levels to prevent stockouts overstocking or obsolescence especially for electronic components.

Supplier Management

• Communicate regularly with suppliers regarding pricing delivery issues quality concerns and documentation.
• Maintain supplier contact information and basic supplier performance records.
• Assist in resolving invoice queries goods receipt issues and discrepancies between PO delivery and invoice.
• Support the qualification of new suppliers through documentation collection and initial assessments.

Operational & Administrative Tasks

• Generate purchasing reports (open POs shortages price variances etc.) for internal stakeholders.
• Upload and maintain documentation such as certificates of conformity RoHS/REACH declarations and material specifications.
• Support audits related to procurement processes supplier evaluation or material traceability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies sourcing guidelines and electronic manufacturing standards.

Qualifications :

Completion of or currently studying towards

• ONC in Business Administration
• ONC in Supply Chain Management

These qualifications demonstrate understanding of business processes production environments and technical components.

Additional Information :

Essential

• Experience in a manufacturing or electronic production environment.
• Working knowledge of SAP (MM module) and familiarity with MRP processes.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good communication skills for interacting with suppliers and internal teams.
• Ability to work in a fastpaced environment with changing priorities.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel Outlook Word).

Preferred

• Experience with mechanical component suppliers (e.g. machine shops metal fabricators plating shops.
• Understanding of supply chain principles such as lead times MOQ safety stock and demand planning.
• Basic negotiation skills for pricing and delivery terms.
• Exposure to ISOcertified manufacturing environments.

Key Attributes

• Proactive and eager to learn procurement and supply chain best practices.
• Strong problemsolving abilities with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Team-oriented with the ability to build collaborative working relationships.
• Detaildriven and organised with a commitment to reliable data management.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin economic status disability age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics where we celebrate support and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation including but not limited to interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our careers website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time