AESC is the world’s leading battery technology company and lithium-ion battery manufacturer with battery plants in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of France's highest-profile manufacturing plants as Envision AESC is building a new battery manufacturing plant in Douai, Hauts-de-France to support its business growth in Europe. This is a unique opportunity to join one of the most exciting, large-scale industrial developments in many years, where new and emerging technologies will be adopted in support of the rapidly growing electric vehicle marketplace.

Purpose

The EU IT/IS Commodity Buyer is responsible for managing IT/IS hardware and software commodities across European sites, including the UK, France, Spain, and Germany. This role involves developing a market intelligence program to benchmark industry indicators for accurate price forecasting and risk mitigation, as well as building strong connections with Global and Local Purchasing teams to support strategies and supplier development. Key responsibilities include ensuring continuous operational improvements with contracted suppliers, acting as the escalation contact for EU/UK site issues, managing vendor engagement and RFQs, and aligning plant needs with Global leadership for cost reductions, improved payment terms, and contractual finalizations. The role also involves timely communication and implementation of negotiation outcomes, establishing ISO-based processes to streamline activities, assessing supplier performance for improvements, and working cross-functionally to set and monitor QCD targets and KPIs for local, EU, and Global leaders.

This role can be located in Douai, France or Sunderland, the UK.

Responsibilities

• EU IT/IS Commodity Buyer key responsibilities will consist of managing IT/IS hardware, software commodities covering all European sites e.g. UK, France, Spain, Germany etc.
• Develop market intelligence program across the region that benchmarks key industry indicators/market price to ensure accurate price forecasting and risk mitigation.
• Build and maintain strong connections with Global Purchasing and Local Purchasing to support strategies and to develop suppliers both regionally and locally.
• Provide continuous operational improvement by ensuring contracted suppliers deliver required and committed service levels, acting as key escalation contact for EU/UK site operational issues managed by Local teams (i.e. IT/BPSS, and other functions where required).
• Identify, engage EU/UK vendors; develop requests for information/quotations (RFI-RFQ); align plant functional needs (in co-ordination with Global leaders) to support TdC activities i.e. cost reduction YOY -5 to -15%, payment conditions improvements, catalogue discounted rebates, contractual finalisation, etc.
• Ensure timely implementation and communications resulting from EU/UK negotiations to required business partners.
• Implement ISO based processes to aide in streamlining of daily activities and ensuring a path to continuous improvement.
• Assess and evaluate suppliers to undertake performance reviews driving improvement activities.
• Work cross functionally to establish QCD targets, objectives and monitor/report KPIs to local management, EU and Global Leaders.
  

Background & Requirements

• University qualification.
• Proven experience in indirect procurement covering IT / IS services within a manufacturing environment of at least 5 years covering supplier engagement, negotiation, and cost reductions.
• Strong negotiators help influence local functions and ability work to tight deadlines, time management.
• Excellent communication skills are crucial to this role, to build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Effective analytical skills to evaluate commodity market trends and report to EU/UK leadership.
• Ability to investigate new supply markets to assess existing and new supplier capabilities to further strength cost reductions and supply rationalization.
• Have an inquisitive and open attitude to exploring new ideas and willingness for continuous improvement.
• Language fluent in English is essential (C1 level)
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point and Power BI, SAP
• Traveling within the EU and sometimes in Asia. 
• Driving licence.
• CIPS or MCIPS is preferred.