Company Overview
At FlexMedical Solutions, we help our customers bring their ideas to life and create a healthier tomorrow, by providing contract design, development, and manufacturing services to medical device OEMs.
In our role as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), we focus on the disposable component of diagnostic tests and have significant expertise with point of care (POC) in vitro diagnostics (IVD). We provide full assay development services and have impressive in-house manufacturing capabilities, ranging from screen printing and laser ablation of electrodes for biosensors to final device assembly, including the formulation and deposition of chemistries.
Our modern facilities are based in Livingston, central Scotland, less than 20 minutes from Edinburgh and 40 minutes from Glasgow. With a healthy mixture of UK and international clients, we are a forward-looking organisation with an exciting future.
Role Description
As an experienced and confident Planner/Buyer, you will bring technical and administrative expertise to the company. Having demonstrated significant purchase and supply skills within a complex environment, you will understand what it takes to meet business needs at all stages of a product lifecycle, ideally having been exposed to procurement in support of both R&D projects and commercial product supply.
The Planner/Buyer is responsible for delivering the planning and procurement of the materials, components, and services required to support uninterrupted supply of goods and materials to facilitate R&D and manufacturing activities.
FMS provides services to multiple clients and as such, you will be competent in managing numerous complex activities simultaneously. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across the business and play a key role in assisting with the development of our Supply Chain function, to improve processes and systems.
Working for a scaling organisation will provide you with a fantastic opportunity to make your mark and demonstrate your skills, helping to enhance the company’s performance.
Key Responsibilities
Production & Materials Planning
- Develop and maintain production and material requirement plans based on demand forecasts, sales orders, and inventory targets
- Compliant and timely processing of customer purchase orders into FMS sales orders
- Coordinate with R&D, manufacturing, and quality team to ensure timely availability of materials for ongoing projects and production schedules
- Provide timely status updates to key stakeholders and communicate any supply problems, and mitigation steps, which may pose a risk or impact to production schedules or customer orders
- Liaise with third parties (customers, vendors, and shipping companies) to ensure controlled and timely shipment of finished product
- Monitor inventory levels and implement replenishment strategies to prevent shortages or excess
- Support the development of ERP/MRP systems to provide accurate demand planning, purchase orders, and work orders to enable both development and standard product delivery
Procurement & Purchasing
- Source, negotiate, and purchase raw materials, reagents, consumables, lab equipment, and production supplies in alignment with material specification, cost, and delivery objectives
- Ensure approved supplier list is adhered to as appropriate when placing material orders, and suppliers adhere to relevant quality obligations and no change agreements
- Ensure purchase orders are placed in a timely fashion, aware of lead-times and order sizes
- Manage supplier relationships, monitor vendor performance, and resolve issues related to pricing, quality, or delivery
- Ensure compliance with company procurement policies and the requirements of quality/regulatory standards (e.g., ISO, FDA, GMP)
- Maintain accurate purchasing documentation and supplier qualification records
Inventory Management
- Collaborate with warehouse personnel to optimize storage and material flow
- Support cycle counting and reconciliation processes to maintain inventory accuracy
- From time to time, provide effective cover for warehouse operations activities
Supplier & Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with internal stakeholders (R&D, Manufacturing, QA/QC, and Finance) to align purchasing activities and query resolution, with project timelines and budgets
- Assist in supplier audits, new vendor onboarding, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Delivery of new materials and components sourcing projects to enable new product development
- Work with Finance to resolve PO, delivery note, and invoice 3-way match discrepancies
Other
- Always work to the requirements of our Quality Management System (QMS)
- Be SME for the company’s ERP system, supporting system development initiatives
- Track and report on periodic key Supply Chain metrics (KPIs)
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential
- Qualified to HND / Degree level in a relevant subject
- Demonstratable experience performing a similar role within a regulated industry
- Experience of working to ISO13485 standards or similar
- A good appreciation of GmP
- Competent using MS Dynamics Business Central or other finance / ERP systems
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical and organisational abilities
- Highly competent in MS Excel
- Able to read and interpret technical specifications and drawings
- Proficient understanding of supply and demand principles
- Understand inventory control techniques
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Be physically able and willing to perform manual duties that include heavy lifting
Desirable
- Experience of working in a medical device (diagnostics) or pharma environment
- Experience working in a CDMO
- International shipping experience
- An understanding of current incoterms and related shipping regulations
- Experience of dealing with hazardous materials
- Green Belt qualification in six sigma / process excellence
- A valid forklift license
- Experience of developing and successful role out of new processes and procedures
Environment & Culture
FlexMedical Solutions is an evolving, scaling organisation operating in a highly regulated industry. The company is enjoying growth through success and is working on several leading-edge projects with extremely exciting customers.
It is a changing environment that requires you to be very flexible and willing to learn and grow with the company. It is essential that you communicate with your colleagues and contribute to the company’s success. As a provider of sub-contract services, working for FlexMedical Solutions will bring variety and excitement. Initiative will be rewarded, and personal development is a given.