Planet Pharma
SR. PURCHASING SPECIALIST – STEVENAGE, UK
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Sr. Purchasing Specialist – Stevenage, UK
Location
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Category
Professional Services
Salary
Apply for details
Country
United Kingdom
Employment
Contract
Worksite
On-Site
Job Description
Sr. Purchasing Specialist
Are you passionate about supporting scientific innovation and making a tangible impact in a dynamic environment? Join us as a Senior Purchasing Specialist in Stevenage and play a vital role in enabling cutting-edge research and development. This is your opportunity to be part of a collaborative team that values proactive problem-solving, efficiency, and customer focus.
Overview
As a Senior Purchasing Specialist, you’ll work closely with R&D Chemistry & Biology labs to streamline procurement processes, ensure seamless supply of essential materials, and support our mission to advance science. Your expertise will help keep research projects moving forward by managing end-to-end purchasing operations, building strong supplier relationships, and maximizing value for the organization.
Key Responsibilities
- Process and ensure accuracy of all procurement orders for assigned business groups, adhering to deadlines.
- Follow up on missing PO numbers, back orders, and invoice discrepancies to maintain smooth workflows.
- Monitor invoices, conduct goods receipting, and approve or reject costs in line with company policies.
- Proactively seek cost-saving opportunities, obtain bulk quotes, and challenge costs to optimize spending.
- Keep internal customers informed about order status and resolve procurement queries efficiently.
- Utilize procurement systems to record and track purchases accurately.
- Maintain relationships with preferred suppliers and follow procurement procedures diligently.
- Provide procurement support to colleagues and other sites as needed, acting as a single point of contact.
- Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations at the site.
- Report key performance metrics to management and suggest process improvements to enhance service delivery.
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Must-Have Requirements
- Customer service experience, ideally within regulated environments.
- Strong IT skills, with knowledge of databases and purchase systems.
- Experience with ARIBA is highly preferred.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and analytical thinking.
- Effective communication skills and ability to solve problems independently.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt quickly in a fast-paced setting.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Familiarity with procurement in scientific or laboratory settings.
- A proactive mindset focused on continuous improvement.
- Experience working with software licenses and lab supplies.
This 12-month maternity cover offers a competitive hourly rate, with a flexible working arrangement of at least two days on site each week in Stevenage. Join us in supporting groundbreaking science–apply now to become part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to making a difference!
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is our policy not to discriminate against any applicant or employee, and we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment across all locations in which we operate. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our mission and enhance our ability to serve clients globally. If you have a disability or require any reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please inform your recruiter or contact us directly so that we can explore the appropriate arrangements.
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Fraud Alert
Candidate safety is a top priority at Planet Pharma. The industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process and always double check the email address of the Recruiter to ensure it’s from an official Planet Pharma domain (@planet-pharma.com, @planet-pharma.co.uk, and @ppgadvisorypartners.com) and not a domain with an alternative extension like.net,.org or.jobs.
The Planet Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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