Job Title Purchasing Officer
Department Purchasing (Supply Chain)
Location East Finchley, London
Reports to Senior Purchasing Consultant

Job Purpose

The Purchasing Officer’s primary responsibility is to procure McDonald’s food and paper products for UK and Ireland under the pillars of predictable, stable and competitive pricing. Their work delivers an optimised, balanced and assured supply chain that provides McDonald’s with an enduring competitive advantage.

They possess an expert and detailed understanding of the categories they manage, which enables them to define and lead the strategy in these areas. The Purchasing Officer spends time growing and nurturing supplier relationships in order to foster supplier self-managed excellence and drive pre-defined category strategy, in conjunction with over-arching business strategy. They are responsible for data input and updates to Purchasing systems and tools, adding value to the business at a Market and Global level.

Principal Responsibilities

• Manage large-scale, complex supplier negotiations from beginning to end, through following a methodological approach and subsequently present a recommendation to the business for sign-off
• Develop supplier relationships and systems that ensure continuous improvement within the parameters of cost, value and service
• Develop category objectives, and ensure these are met and followed in order to lead the supplier on the McDonald’s journey
• Present finalised commercial recommendations with a well-thought out & clear rationale that displays all relevant avenues have been explored
• Keep abreast of and take industry, market and other internal and external business factors into consideration when making decisions
• Build strong foundations with Global Commercial Leads in order to work collaboratively to deliver market objectives and strategies
• Demonstrate an understanding of how the Purchasing team’s performance impacts McDonald’s overall business, particularly with reference to forecasting accuracy and management, in addition to other business metrics that feed into external departments both at a Global and Market level
• Responsibility for data input and strategic analysis of Purchasing tools and systems.
• Prioritises key projects within allocated categories and thinks innovatively around bold, progressive moves that can be taken forward to develop the business’ leadership position
• Takes on and lead cross-functional / category based projects that optimise supply chain benefits
• Manages Global & Local business reporting requirements and deliver these in an accurate and timely fashion
• Possesses competent and succinct presentation capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and associated needs, particularly at a higher level

Building Blocks

• Curiosity – constantly learning and growing
• Thinking Agility – synthesises information quickly to provide insight
• Resilience – persistent in the face of challenges
• Connection – genuine desire and capacity to understand and relate to others

Execution Proficiency

• Ability to recognise what matters most to the organisation
• Examines business practices and regularly makes improvements to deliver higher performance levels
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to succinctly communicate supply chain information to non-supply chain audiences
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• Builds relationships with key external and internal customers
• Actively engages with and influences others

Strategic Proficiency

• Adopts a “progress over perfection” approach in tandem with considering a “birds eye view” of overall business objectives and priorities and considers agile ways of working to get projects over the line
• Actively keeps abreast of developments in the marketplace, including economic and political
• Understands the supply chain customer and develops strategies and processes to service needs

Talent Proficiency

• Displays leadership behaviours and characteristics and a desire to develop self
• Demonstrates the ability to motivate and support team members as appropriate
• Help others adapt in challenging circumstances or during periods of change
• Works with energy and enthusiasm and inspires the same in others
• Builds a supportive, feedback-rich environment, encouraging and modelling the exchange of feedback

Key Relationships

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external
• These include: Senior Leadership, Supply Chain e.g. QA, Logistics, Agriculture and Sustainability (Global & Market), Food Development, Marketing, Business Strategy & Insight, Operations, Supplier Partners, 3rd Party Distributor, and Franchisees.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 2:1 degree (in any discipline)
• Proven track record in leading complex, multi-faceted negotiations to successful conclusion
• Experience of supplier / stakeholder management and development
• Computer literate - proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point
• Strong team leader & player with the ability to forge & leverage relationships
• Pragmatic, thoughtful and customer driven
• Embodies the ‘three-legged stool’ approach to the system
• Demonstrates the ability to take on tasks and explore them, seeking support at necessary junctures
• Ability to take feedback on-board and use it as an opportunity to positively develop skillset
• Communicates and prioritises appropriately, and escalates where necessary
• Ability to deliver feedback in a constructive and positive way (both to suppliers and internal stakeholders)
• Shows the ability to build solid networks and relationships across the business to support requirements of the team
• Demonstrates a strategic approach to all interactions with suppliers through the ability to adapt approaches depending on the desired outcome
• Takes the initiative and lead cross-functionally to progress projects that add value to the business.