The Procurement Manager plays a pivotal role within Uniphar Group's Aid and Development business unit. This role is dedicated to ensuring efficient sourcing and procurement of essential medicines and medical supplies that will be supplied to NGOs, UN organizations and government bodies in low and middle-income countries. This role aims to ensure timely, cost-effective, and reliable procurement practices that align with the company's strategic objectives.
Uniphar Background
Uniphar group is a rapidly expanding global healthcare services business with a proud heritage in Ireland. Since IPO in 2019, the group has grown both organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions, which continues to strengthen Uniphar's international reach. With a workforce of over 3000+ spread across Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Nordics and the USA, Uniphar is a trusted global partner to pharma and MedTech manufacturers, working to improve patient access to medicines around the world.
Role Responsibilities
- Sourcing strategies:
- Identify, evaluate, and implement sourcing strategies in regions including India, China and Africa.
- Devise a new strategy for our existing range of SRA / UKMHRA approved range of suppliers.
- Together with Sales and Operations, determine which products will be sourced for stock keeping at one or more of Uniphar's warehouses.
- Category strategies:
- Analyze market trends and create comprehensive category strategies for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, medical equipment, kits and other goods related to humanitarian relief.
- Implement innovative approaches to optimize procurement processes within different categories.
- Cost Management and Negotiation:
- Drive cost-saving initiatives while maintaining quality standards.
- Conduct price negotiations with suppliers to secure competitive pricing and work with the sales department to select the most cost-effective vendors in quotations.
- Together with a team of procurement executives, keep prices updated in our ERP, and/or conduct spot price negotiations for tenders and RFQs where required.
- Supplier Relationship Management:
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers.
- Identify and onboard new suppliers, ensuring alignment with quality and ethical standards.
- Contract Management:
- Oversee contract negotiations and management, ensuring adherence to terms and appropriate renewals or revisions.
- Compliance and Risk Management:
- Ensure adherence to regulations and industry standards.
- Mitigate procurement-related risks and develop contingency plans.
- Process Improvement:
- Continuously assess and enhance procurement processes for increased efficiency.
- Implement best practices and innovative approaches to streamline workflows.
- Performance Monitoring and Reporting:
- Develop and maintain KPIs to measure procurement performance.
- Generate reports providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
- Team Leadership and Development:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a small but high-performing procurement team, which is geographical dispersed (UK/EU and India).
- Provide guidance, training, and support to enhance team capabilities.
Key Skills & Experiences
- Procurement Expertise: Extensive experience in procurement and supply chain management, particularly within the medical supplies sector.
- Global Sourcing Knowledge: Understanding of sourcing dynamics for generic pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in regions like India and China.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with organizational goals.
- Negotiation Skills: Proficiency in negotiating contracts and terms with suppliers.
- Analytical Skills: Strong analytical abilities to assess market trends and make data-driven decisions.
- Collaboration: Excellent collaboration skills to work with diverse stakeholders.
- Problem-Solving: Capacity to address complex procurement challenges and find effective solutions.
Key Interactions
- Internal Collaborations: Interact closely with supply chain teams, finance, operations, and project managers to align procurement strategies with overall business objectives.
- External Stakeholders: Engage with suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics partners to establish and maintain strong relationships.
Core Competencies
- Adaptability: Flexibility to navigate diverse sourcing landscapes and changing market conditions.
- Ethical Standards: Commitment to maintaining ethical procurement practices.
- Resilience: Capacity to handle pressure and manage procurement challenges effectively.
- Leadership: Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive procurement initiatives.
Location
- The role is based in the EU or UK.
- The role be done remotely and/or at one of our offices in London (UK), Dublin (IR) or Lelystad (NL).
- Travel to suppliers, relevant conferences and exhibitions is required, frequency to be discussed.