Procurement Specialist
Location: Dundee, Scotland (hybrid working, 3 days in office)
Salary: £35k
About Ace Aquatec:
Ace Aquatec is an award-winning aquaculture technology company developing innovative, welfare-first solutions for the global aquaculture industry.
Our technologies include in-water electric stunning systems, marine mammal protection solutions, biomass estimation technology and sea lice removal systems. Our aim is to accelerate the adoption of responsible marine practices, helping our customers operate more efficiently, ethically and sustainably.
About the role:
We’re looking for an organised, commercially-minded and proactive Procurement Specialist to join our team in Dundee.
Reporting to our Purchasing Manager, you’ll play an important role in ensuring Ace Aquatec has the goods, materials and services we need, when we need them, while achieving the right balance of cost, quality and reliability.
You’ll manage a broad range of procurement activities, from sourcing and supplier selection through to negotiation, purchase order management, delivery and supplier performance. You’ll also work closely with colleagues across the business to identify opportunities for cost savings, improve our procurement processes and support the continued development of a resilient and efficient supply chain.
What you'll be doing:
As our Procurement Specialist, your responsibilities will include:
Supplier Relationships & Management
- Set up supplier credit accounts, ensuring appropriate and accurate supply agreements are in place, maintained and regularly reviewed.
- Negotiate contracts, pricing and commercial terms with suppliers to secure best value for the business.
- Support appropriate supplier due diligence and ensure relevant procurement requirements are met.
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers to support collaboration, reliability and continuity of supply.
- Conduct market research to understand pricing trends, product availability and supplier offerings.
- Source products and identify and assess new suppliers in a timely manner, demonstrating best value while considering quality, service and lead times.
Purchase Order Management
- Request and gather quotations from suppliers based on business requirements and specifications, comparing options to support informed purchasing decisions.
- Create and place accurate purchase orders, verifying pricing, quantities, specifications and delivery timelines before submission.
- Review supplier order confirmations and track orders through to delivery and invoicing.
- Make purchasing recommendations based on business requirements, product availability and supply trends to help ensure the right goods are available at the right time.
- Communicate proactively with internal teams and external suppliers regarding delivery updates, delays and potential supply chain issues.
- Support the resolution of discrepancies or issues relating to orders, deliveries, invoices and inventory.
- Monitor stock requirements and highlight low-stock items requiring replenishment and approval.
Pricing, Cost Control & Efficiency
- Identify and pursue opportunities to reduce purchasing costs across our existing product range while maintaining appropriate quality and service standards.
- Evaluate alternative suppliers, products and sourcing options to identify opportunities for savings and improved supply resilience.
- Analyse procurement data to identify trends, cost-saving opportunities and areas for process improvement.
- Support the ongoing development of procurement practices that deliver value and efficiency as the business grows.
Documentation & Record Keeping
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of purchase orders, supplier agreements, quotations, delivery information and other procurement documentation.
- Ensure procurement documentation is appropriately filed and easily accessible within company systems.
- Produce regular procurement information and reports covering areas such as order status, supplier performance and spend analysis to support decision-making.
- Maintain and update MRP planning information to provide the wider team with visibility of estimated delivery schedules.
- Ensure all relevant purchasing and supplier documentation is accurately recorded within the ERP and other company systems.
Financial Systems & Technology
- Maintain accurate supplier master data, including credit account information, discounts, pricing and product information.
- Support the accuracy and integrity of item master data and Bills of Materials within the ERP system.
- Contribute to the ongoing review and improvement of our end-to-end Procure-to-Pay (P2P) process, including supplier management, quotations, approvals, ordering, delivery tracking and product returns.
- Identify opportunities to use systems and technology to improve procurement efficiency, visibility and accuracy.
Materials Management
During busy periods and to provide holiday cover for the Purchasing Manager, you will also support wider materials management activities, including:
- Manage and maintain assembly information within the ERP system, including accurate Bills of Materials and routing information.
- Work with Operations to understand and resolve deviations or changes to Bills of Materials.
- Coordinate the scheduling and tracking of assemblies within the ERP system, working with Operations to support the timely completion of production orders.
- Monitor inventory levels and support appropriate stock availability to meet production requirements while minimising unnecessary carrying costs.
- Work with Production and Operations colleagues to identify material requirements and support forecasting.
- Provide supply chain support for Ace Aquatec R&D projects, liaising with colleagues and senior managers to meet project requirements.
- Maintain accurate rental stock information, including location, condition, value and availability.
- Support the effective flow of inventory and materials required for production.
What we're looking for:
We’re looking for someone who combines excellent organisation and attention to detail with a commercial and proactive approach to procurement.
You’ll be comfortable managing multiple priorities, building strong supplier relationships and working collaboratively across different areas of the business.
You’ll ideally have:
- At least 2 years' experience in purchasing, procurement or a similar supply chain role.
- Experience of sourcing goods or services and working directly with suppliers.
- Experience negotiating with suppliers to achieve competitive pricing and best overall value.
- Strong communication, negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Good commercial awareness and an understanding of cost, quality, lead time and supply continuity.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to respond proactively to supply chain challenges.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
- Confidence working with purchasing, supplier and product data.
- The ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively across different teams.
It would be great if you also have:
- A CIPS qualification, are currently working towards one, or have an interest in undertaking a CIPS qualification.
- Experience using an ERP or MRP system within a purchasing, manufacturing or supply chain environment.
- Experience working with Bills of Materials (BoMs) and/or materials planning.
- Previous experience within an engineering, manufacturing or technology environment.
- Experience supporting procurement for R&D, new product development or project-based requirements.
Why join Ace Aquatec?
You’ll be joining a growing, innovative business where effective procurement and supply chain management play an important role in delivering our technology to customers around the world.
This is a varied role where you’ll have the opportunity to build strong supplier relationships, influence purchasing decisions and contribute to improvements in how we source and manage materials as the business continues to grow.
You’ll work closely with colleagues across Operations, Engineering, R&D, Finance and our wider business, giving you exposure to a broad range of products, projects and commercial requirements.
At Ace Aquatec, our values are Imaginative, Brave, Respectful and Collaborative, and we’re looking for someone who brings those values to the way they work with colleagues, suppliers and partners.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary, based on experience: up to £35k
- 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
- Death in service at 4 x your annual salary
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced parental leave policies
- Birthday day off
- Paid bereavement and sick leave
- Company salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Regular social breakfasts, lunches and team events
At Ace Aquatec, we want everyone to feel welcome, valued and able to do their best work. We’re committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an inclusive workplace where people are treated with respect.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process where required. If there’s anything we can do to support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.