Group Capex Buyer

Location:         Cardiff (Hybrid Working Available)

Shift:                Monday to Friday       

Salary:             Competitive + Benefits 

We have an opportunity for a Group CapEx Buyer to join our Purchasing Team in Cardiff.

Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards, and build long-term relationships with major multiple retailers and the foodservice channel. The bread for your morning toast, ready for butter-spreading or egg-dipping. The candle-filled centrepiece for a memorable celebration. The buns, muffins and other treats that turn teatime into quality time. We make 75% of the UK’s sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes This is what we do, and why we’re in business. Baking brilliance makes every day special.

As Group Buyer they will be responsible for the strategic sourcing of major Capex investment in plant, facilities, and equipment.

They will be required to work with both internal and external stakeholders to streamline the group approach and strategy to the scoping of new technologies and equipment in order to drive operational and environmental performance across the Group.

This is a fast paced role, therefore a strong strategic sourcing and procurement background is essentials, with experience sourcing within an engineering procurement category. Assisting sites with their Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) purchase needs, work with project team and lead the purchasing actions including launching RFI, RFQ, qualifying potential suppliers, negotiating price, commercial terms and contract while ensuring compliance with group policies.

This role is based at our Cardiff site with hybrid working as an option. On occasion you will be required to attend one of our other sites for meetings which could be weekly or monthly, depending on the requirement. Therefore, willingness to travel is essential.

This is a great opportunity for someone to gain experience with one of the UK’s largest bakery businesses. You’ll work closely with a friendly and engaging team from both a site and group perspective, offering opportunities for growth and long-term career development.

This is what you’ll actually do!

The Group CapEx Buyer will negotiate conditions with suppliers which improve working capital (i.e., extended payment terms, consignment, JIT deliveries, etc.), they will track and monitor CapEx spend against budgets, ensuring procurement activities remain within financial targets. They will manage the entire supplier contracting process, ensuring all contracts comply with company policies, legal requirements, and risk management procedures as well as identifying target categories and define an action plan, which should include: synergies with other sites, discussion with technical team about possible alternatives for single source materials and/or cost savings opportunities.

The successful candidate will establish and drive cost savings targets, managing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and metrics, ensuring the company receives best in class pricing goods and services, leveraging terms, conditions, and volumes where appropriate, managing and evaluating a portfolio of suppliers, applying technical procurement knowledge, preparing monthly reports outlining major activities, and supporting and maintaining procurement systems and databases. They will understand and implement an Asset Management framework in particular the assessment of current assets and replacement cycle. They will build and maintain long-term, collaborative relationships with key suppliers, ensuring alignment with business values, sustainability goals, and innovation targets.

To be successful in this role, they will understand company strategy and objectives and add in-depth knowledge and experience to develop these further, they will seek innovation in technologies and propose efficiency and cost out solutions to the business. They will champion sustainable procurement practices by sourcing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions for CapEx projects. They will also support the Indirect procurement function on engineering relating spend where required.

Ideally this is you!

• Strong strategic sourcing and procurement background with a minimum 3 years’ experience sourcing within an engineering procurement category, experience within Indirect and Capex categories are advantageous.
• Competency demonstrated by a formal technical qualification combined with good education standards/industry experience and knowledge
• Demonstrated success in delivering significant cost savings on a year over year basis.
• Full Lifecycle Contract Management - Monitoring and reviewing performance to budget, identifying opportunities for greater efficiencies, improved terms and value add activity.
• Developing closer collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally to identify and drive continuous improvement activity and support the business long term strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring high levels of efficiency and accuracy.
• Experience in sustainability with respect to buildings/facilities.
• The ability to compile business cases associated with energy optimisation projects highlighting cost benefits and ROI.
• Experience of ISO 55000 Asset Management standards are desirable.
• Understanding of legislative requirements.
• Financially aware, numerate, commercially minded and able to effectively manage costs.
• Excellent communication skills
• Motivated, self- directed and detail orientated.
• Proficient within Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint.