Packaging Category Buyer

Function: Procurement

Location: Eaglescliffe, UK

Reporting To: Head of International Procurement

At Tata Consumer Products Ltd, we stand #Forbetter – Planet, Sourcing, Nutrition, Communities. And #ForBetter Opportunities …. Here’s an exciting one!

How does this Job align to our Strategy?

At the core of Tata Consumer Products' business approach lie six strategic pillars that serve as the foundation for its growth and success:  Strengthen Core & accelerate Growth businesses, Build on New Opportunities, Drive execution excellence every day, Drive Digital and Innovation, Create a Future-Ready Organization, and Embed Sustainability.

Top dimensions :

Global Grade: GG5

Geography: UK

Direct reports: None

Type of Role: Procurement

Primary Stakeholders: Growth Hub, Innovation Teams, Planning, Projects Team, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Sales, TBB (Tea Buying & Blending)

What are the Key Deliverables in this role ?

Financial Outcomes

• Ensure pricing is competitive and in line with the market, using market research and intelligence to challenge suppliers when needed.
• Monitor PPV (Purchase Price Variance) against annual packaging budget.
• Ensure orders are processed in line with the packaging budget and purchasing procedure.
• Agree and, when needed, re-negotiate commercial terms with suppliers to deliver value for the business and within budget.
• Identify and deliver cost reduction, value engineering and commercial improvement opportunities, ensuring quality, service, compliance and business continuity are maintained.

Customer Service

• Work with the Planning Department to ensure effective call-off of materials and provide solutions to immediate or future supply issues.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships while fostering new relationships where required.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand their needs and provide solutions that meet or exceed expectations.
• Provide clear and timely updates to Planning, Operations, Projects, Procurement and relevant stakeholders on supply risks, cost impacts, timelines, supplier performance and issue resolution.

Internal Processes

• Place orders and schedule agreements with suppliers in line with agreed ordering parameters.
• Run MRP and forecast reports and share these with suppliers.
• Manage stock and inventory, ensuring lead times are understood and adhered to internally and externally.
• Maintain price, SAP and procurement systems data, with a desire to automate and digitise spreadsheets and data to support quicker and clearer decision-making.
• Complete component code set-ups to ensure new products are effectively set up and ready to be ordered.
• Support monthly KPI reporting for supplier performance and stock value/volumes held with suppliers, maintaining a clear understanding of stock liability.
• Track and review supplier performance measures including OTIF, quality, responsiveness, cost performance, service levels and corrective action progress.
• Work with Finance and Accounts to understand and resolve invoice queries.
• Maintain accurate procurement data, pricing records, SAP master data, supplier information and reporting to support effective business decisions.
• Ensure all suppliers have signed up to the Tata Supplier Code of Conduct and Anti Bribery and Corruption Questionnaires.

Innovation and Learning

• Work with the Procurement Implementation Manager, Projects team and external suppliers to facilitate the introduction of new products or product changes that enable business growth.
• Identify and bring innovative solutions to business and procurement challenges, particularly those that support growth.
• Take a proactive approach to continuous improvement, automation and digitisation across procurement processes.
• Support packaging sustainability objectives such as EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) by working with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify responsible sourcing, waste reduction, recyclable packaging and continuous improvement opportunities in line with TCPL’s For Better strategy.

Health & Safety / Compliance Accountability

• Work with Procurement colleagues, the wider business and external suppliers to identify and minimise business risk within the supply chain.
• Implement dual sourcing and, where possible, multi-region sourcing to strengthen resilience.
• Create Supplier Level Agreements where clear ways of working are agreed and maintained with suppliers.
• Manage supply chain risk proactively, identifying risks early and addressing them with appropriate solutions.
• Develop contingency options and business continuity plans for critical packaging materials, escalating risks early where supply, quality, cost or service could be impacted or compromised.

What are the Critical success factors for the Role ?

• A positive growth mindset, with strong teamwork and multi-tasking skills. The ability to perform under pressure and to tight deadlines within an international environment.
• Willingness to continuously learn, challenge and develop, while putting the customer and consumer first in everything they do.
• Ability to see the bigger picture and play a key role in delivering it within a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to prioritise tasks, and commitment to seeing work through to completion.
• Ability to execute objectives with excellence and work as part of a global team within a fast-paced, efficient production environment.

What are the Desirable success factors for the Role ?

• A good understanding of category buying, ideally packaging, within an internationally focused FMCG or similar fast-paced environment, with ideally a minimum of three years’ experience.
• Exposure to contracts, supplier relationship management, international supply chains, manufacturing, stock and inventory management, KPI reporting and supply chain risk management.
• Numerically literate with strong analytical and reasoning skills; experience of SAP is desirable, alongside strong Microsoft Office capability, particularly Excel.
• Ability to develop and optimise ordering plans and work with demand forecasts to ensure the right product is delivered at the right time, in the right quantity, at the right place and price.
• Negotiation experience and the ability to secure the best price and commercial supply terms for the business.
• Ability to influence, challenge internal and external expectations, communicate clearly across all levels, and offer a different perspective where needed.
• Proactive focus on Procurement function objectives, bringing forward innovative solutions to procurement and business challenges.

TCPL Growth Mindset and Behaviors

We are obsessed about keeping Consumers & Customers first in our hearts – that’s why we are here !

We are trailblazers in executing with Excellence … Together as One Team !

We take Ownership of our business …delivering value for our Stakeholders .. no Compromises !

We are Open to Continuously improving … Continuously innovating … For Better !

We live & breathe our Tata Code of Conduct

About Us: At Tata Consumer, we stand ‘For Better.’

Tata Consumer Products is a focused consumer products company uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. Our brands embody our purpose of ‘For Better ‘through the value they deliver to consumers with a focus on innovation, health and wellness, convenience and premiumisation. The Company’s portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, RTD, salt, pulses, spices, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat offerings, breakfast cereals, snacks and mini meals. Our key brands include Tata Tea, Tetley, Eight O’Clock Coffee, Tata Coffee Grand, Himalayan Natural Mineral Water, Tata Copper+ and Tata Gluco+, Tata Salt, Tata Sampann and Tata Soulfull.   In India, Tata Consumer Products has a reach of over 200 million households, giving it an unparalleled ability to leverage the Tata brand in consumer products.

The Company has a consolidated annual turnover of ~Rs. 17,618 Crs (£15,257,188) with operations in India and International markets. For more information please visit www.tataconsumer.com