CV (Curriculum Vitae) / Résumé

MCIPS QUALIFIED.

SKILLS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCE


Ciba Speciality Chemicals, October 2006 to Feb 2009 Contract position
Purchasing Lead
Ciba Specialty Chemicals develops, produces and sells speciality chemicals worldwide. It serves a number of major markets such as the paper, plastics, printing, packaging, lubricants and automotive industries.
Ciba has around 14,000 employees with headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. In 2007, the company generated sales of SF6.5bn and invested SF262m in R&D. CIBA soon to be taken over by BASF.

Brought in at SAP implementation stage (for 3 months initially) to build relationships with and train users in the use of SAP SRM & ERP in Purchasing for 2 UK sites, plus a USA site (spending a month there). Successfully implemented a change in Purchasing procedures from a previous “Maverick” Purchasing culture.

-Indirect Purchasing lead for 2 UK sites with an approx. spend of £25m PA in total.
-Introduction of Global purchasing initiatives & supply contracts/E procurement into 2 UK sites and ensuring these adhered to, to reach target cost savings.
- Educating and implementing change to users in complying to CIBA Purchasing procedures.
- Some interface with Accounts payable procedures especially in the initial stages, being an active member of the P2P team.
- Liaising with suppliers and internal customers to ensure smooth processes and troubleshooting and problem solving where necessary.
- Problem solving SRM with AP workflow, raising tickets for technical and functional issues and working to form resolutions.
- Indirect purchasing guidance for 2 UK sites (categories shown below)


Purchasing Scope - RFPs, commercial & contractual negotiation, Supplier & contract management, Group negotiations, cost savings, supply base rationalization, negotiated extended payment terms.

Categories included-
IT (hardware and software), Legal services, Catering, Insurance, HR Training, Conferences and events, Hotels, PR, Copywriting services, Office services, FM, Utilities.
SAP Catalogues- lab equipment, stationery, PPE, all tied into Corporate agreements.






Bombardier Transportation, Crewe May 2006 to October 2006, contract position
Commodity Buyer
Bombardier Transportation is the global leader in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its wide range of products includes passenger rail vehicles and total transit systems. It also manufactures locomotives, bogies, propulsion and controls and provides rail control solutions.

Engine Buyer, responsible for negotiation of Strategic contracts for the Power department of the rail division of Bombardier. Yearly spend was £15m. Liason with Sales, Production, Strategic, Planning. Cost reduction targets. Responsible for influencing culture change within the division and also with Suppliers.. Day to day problem solving, building relationships with suppliers and internal customers. Forecasting potential leverage with suppliers, standardization of parts, supplier base reduction. Work as part of a professional procurement team from other depts to achieve the Procurement objectives and results. Also assisted with transition of correct data onto SAP.

Purchasing Scope - RFPs, commercial & contractual negotiation, Supplier & contract management, Group negotiations, cost savings, supply base rationalization, extended payment terms, Production reporting.

Thales Information Systems, Stockport, December 2005 to May 2006, contract position
Thales are operations in 50 countries and has 68,000 employees, Thales is a world leader in Mission-critical information systems for the Aerospace, Defence and Security markets.Building on proven capabilities in large and complex software systems, Thales steps up to the security challenges of its customers in an increasingly interconnected, technology-driven world. Civil and military systems benefit from many of the same technologies and innovations. Developing these dual technologies has been a long tradition for Thales, with its global network of 22,000 high-level researchers. Leveraging a global presence and spanning the entire value chain, from prime contracting to equipment, Thales plays a pivotal role in making the world a safer place.
I.T Buyer
Software buyer for centralized IT purchasing function for the whole of the UK. Liaison between Project team leaders- for especially MOD software bids- and Suppliers. Negotiation for best prices and service to full range of Business Units. Some rationalization throughout the group of software to effect price reduction. Also focal point for Thales customers, i.e. Working links and MOD.

Honeywell Turbo Technologies, March 2005 to December 2005, contract position

The Turbo Technologies business is a unit of Honeywell Transportation Systems, one of the four main divisions within the Honeywell corporation, and is recognized around the world as one of the leading manufacturers of engine boosting systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

European NPI (New Product Introduction) Buyer. (Contract role)

Working on projects for development of custom made turbochargers for passenger cars. Liaison with Sales, application engineers, programme manager, other European NPI buyers. Negotiation and production reviews with European and low cost country Suppliers, including Slovenia, China and India. Also consultation with European Quality Engineers to ensure full approval of tooling and production parts. Regular contact with Honeywell production facility in Italy. Use of SAP.

United Utilities Networks Limited (UUNL), November 2003 – end January 2005, (Contract role)

Buyer

Working as part of a newly formed Procurement team for the unregulated Networks sector of United Utilities PLC. Initially was tasked with targeting high spend contracts for “Quick Wins”/ cost reduction and latterly the lower spend commodities. Request for quotes and tenders submitted to existing and new Suppliers, thus opening up competition in the market. Achieved significant cost savings and value for money achieved by way of negotiating new contracts with improved Terms and Conditions for the benefit of UUNL. Successfully liaised and built relationships with Exel Logistics and internal specialists and Suppliers in seeking product information/specifications/ market knowledge. Preparation of internal recommendation and Business case documents. Communication of newly set up contracts to users (namely sub contractors) and internal personnel to aid the process of moving from the Exel Logistics facility to the new process. Utilisation of SAP and other business packages. Latterly taken on responsibility for the mobile phone contract with UU subsidiary “Your Communications” and gradually moving into the role of Procurement representative for Metering. Use of SAP.

IBM November 2002 - November 2003

Purchasing Officer , contract position

Based at Astrazeneca site in Alderley, Cheshire, IBM subcontracted to supply the site with hardware, software and other IT requirements. Working as part of a team of three for IBM, successfully liaised and negotiated with Suppliers, and in addition with on site customers/users, IT helpdesk ensuring customers were given best value for money solution. Worked to ensuring Service Level Agreements to customer were met. Use SAP and in house systems.



BAE Systems, Woodford June 1995 - October 2002 (redundancy)

Commodity account manager
March 2001 to Feb 2002
Working as part of a commodity team for cutting tools and consumable tooling after setting up new contracts to be implemented into each site. Working as part of a "virtual team" and having responsibility and accountability for particular sites situated around the UK to implement the new cutting tools and consumable tool contracts, working with both the Prime supplier and second tier supplier's, in addition to specialist in house engineers and users, to identify potential savings. Savings made by way of BOM savings, product substitution, standardisation and process improvement, in order to achieve projected savings over a three year period.
Purchasing Executive/ Account Manager
Feb 2000 to Feb 2001 Rejoined Commercial Purchasing team, responsibilities included the successful negotiation of contract for RJX Full Flight Simulator ($9M), contracts for support of new business (Nimrod), negotiated and completed contracts for test rigs. Management of consumable tool and consumables contract, and aircraft scaffolding contract.

Feb 1999 - Feb 2000 RJ/RJXVendor Equipment Purchasing Group. Responsibilities to maintain BOM for own portfolio of Supplier accounts whilst persuading Suppliers to give support to the planned RJX Project Aircraft for the future. Negotiating New Supply Agreements/contracts for life of programme with negotiated pricing scales. Vendor accounts included electrical systems and interiors for aircraft. Liaising with relevant engineers and working with internal teams on cost reduction and new development projects. Also representative for Purchasing Dept.on internal Sales Support Team providing Commercial advice to support our Sales/Marketing team based in Toulouse, France.

October 1997-Feb 1999 Supply Group, Avionics & Electrical Team. Responsibilities for strategic management of suppliers within Business cell including cost reduction and supplier improvement programmes. Managing Bill of Materials obtaining price freezes. Gaining knowledge in the Aircraft Industry.

June 1995-Oct 1997 -Supply Group - Commercial Purchasing team. Portfolio of accounts include Electricity and Gas contract, Stationery and print, Computer consumables. Also providing support to Avrotest for the purchasing of flight test equipment. Represent Regional Aircraft on British Aerospace Corporate teams namely Utilities & Overheads and Supply Base Optimisation (Benchmark BAe).

1993-1995 - Career break after birth of second child, attended local TEC course on setting up and running own business. For 6 months provided a secretarial service from home.

Shell UK Materials Services, Wilmslow, Cheshire. 1979 -1993

Buyer 1986 -1993

* Controlled procurement of safety clothing and equipment (PPE) for Shell Distribution and Aviation.
* Promoted the Materials function to various Divisions, acquiring additional business from existing and new Shell clients.
* Negotiated the setting up of Supply agreements to effect stockholding by Suppliers, revised specifications, Quality procedures, Performance standards and actively reduced inventory cost.
* Worked within a committee and standardised safety materials throughout various Divisions.
* Administered stock control system for L.P.G spares (Liquified Petroleum Gas).
* Procured and expedited a diverse range of commodities including general spares.
* Converted existing Stock control system to Hewlett Packard on-line computer system.

EDUCATION

* MCIPS Professional Stage. (Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply)
* Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (Foundation Stage)
* 5 G.C.E 'O' levels including English Language, Geography, Biology, RE, Domestic Science

PERSONAL QUALITIES include:-
Personable character and excellent former of relationships both with internal and external customers
Excellent team player
Integrity
Hard working
Effective troubleshooter and problem solver

TRAINING
1. Inventory Control / Stock Management.
2. Several Negotiation skills Workshops
3. Presentation Skills Workshops
4. SAP and SRM system training and experience.
5. Working experience of Microsoft Office software.
6. Obtained first stage certificate in Counselling (2002)
7. MCIPS qualified.