Procurement Assistant
Key Responsibilities Provide day-to-day procurement and administrative support to the Head of Sourcing. Assist with sourcing and purchasing fresh produce in line with agreed supply programs and business requirements. Prepare, place and maintain purchase orders, ensuring supplier, pricing and purchasing information is accurate. Liaise with growers and suppliers regarding availability, pricing, orders, documentation and delivery schedules. Monitor outstanding orders and expected deliveries, highlighting potential shortages, delays or supply issues promptly. Assist with supplier pricing comparisons, cost analysis and preparation of information to support commercial negotiations. Maintain accurate supplier, procurement and purchasing records within Company systems and spreadsheets. Support supplier on-boarding, compliance and performance monitoring. Work closely with Commercial, Logistics, Technical, Quality, Operations and Finance colleagues to ensure effective communication and continuity of supply. Prepare procurement reports, trackers and analysis as required. Develop knowledge of citrus products, varieties, seasons, growing regions, crop availability and relevant market conditions. Help identify opportunities for cost savings, improved supplier performance and more efficient procurement processes.
Skills & Experience Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail. Good numerical and analytical ability with a commercially minded approach. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence dealing with suppliers and colleagues. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook and Word. Ability to prioritise workload, meet deadlines and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Previous experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, commercial administration or fresh produce would be advantageous. Experience of ERP or purchasing systems would be beneficial such like Prophet or Rubicon. Additional language skills, particularly Spanish, would be advantageous. This is a permanent role offering one-day per week working from home.