Cathelco is a world-leading supplier to the marine industry, specialising in corrosion protection systems and integrated water and waste management solutions. For over 40 years, we have helped global players significantly reduce their environmental impact. With offices in 13 countries and representatives in more than 70, we pride ourselves on being close to our customers wherever they are. We are now seeking a Category Buyer to join our team for a 12 month contract and contribute to our continued success.

Purpose of the Role

As a Category Buyer, you will play a critical role in managing the purchasing of goods and services for Cathelco and its subsidiary companies. You will negotiate with suppliers to reduce costs, minimise lead times, and ensure that our supply chain operates smoothly and efficiently. This role will be key in delivering cost savings, optimising inventory levels, and maintaining strong supplier relationships. You will report to the Procurement Manager and work closely with various internal departments, including sales and technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Supplier Management: Negotiate with suppliers to achieve favourable terms, reduce minimum order quantities (MOQ), and ensure timely delivery of goods and services.
• Cost Optimisation: Increase profitability through cost savings, favourable purchase price variances, and inventory reduction strategies.
• Purchase Order Management: Generate and manage purchase orders, ensuring accuracy in cost, unit of measure (UOM), supplier references, and quantities.
• Inventory Control: Continuously review stock levels to ensure adequate availability for production while avoiding excess inventory.
• ERP Database Management: Maintain data integrity in our ERP system, ensuring accurate purchasing data.
• Supplier Communication: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring effective communication about orders and delivery schedules.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Liaise with internal departments, including sales to monitor trends and spikes in demand, and technical teams to ensure accurate specifications are provided to suppliers.

Keys to Success

To thrive in this role, you should bring a solid background in purchasing and supplier management. Key skills and qualifications include:

• Experience: Significant experience in a purchasing role, with expertise in sourcing materials and components for manufacturing technical products.
• Communication & Negotiation: Strong communication skills for managing suppliers and collaborating with internal teams, along with proven negotiation skills.
• Organisational Skills: Excellent time management, attention to detail, and the ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Team Player: A positive, proactive attitude with a focus on teamwork and collaboration.
• ERP/MRP Systems: Experience using ERP/MRP systems (SAP desirable), with proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• KPI Understanding: Knowledge of key business production KPIs, including Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Performance.

What We Offer

This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading global company in a dynamic and innovative industry. At Cathelco, part of the Evac Group, we offer a supportive and inclusive work environment where you will play a key role in helping us achieve our strategic and operational objectives. You’ll work alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about sustainability and innovation

Evac has been a pioneer in sustainable technologies and solutions for decades. Cathelco is part of Evac Group. Today we are the world’s leading provider of integrated Evac® water, waste and wastewater technologies, Cathelco® corrosion protection and marine growth prevention and HEM® freshwater systems.

Our technologies address the increasing need for innovative solutions driven by the megatrends of climate change, circularity, and increasingly scarce freshwater resources. We contribute to a better environment and cleaner seas by helping our customers eliminate waste, conserve water, mitigate emissions, and lengthen the lifecycle of their vessels or buildings. Together with our 500 colleagues in 14 countries, we strive for a future with no waste.