Procurement Engineer - Refrigeration

About the role:

Reporting to the Head of Procurement Engineering within the Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment Team, this role manages the refrigeration equipment category for all supermarket brands within the Group. The role entails ranging, specifying, technically evaluating, and pricing refrigeration equipment, systems, components and associated technologies through formal processes. The role will create consistent standards for refrigeration assets while balancing performance, total cost of ownership, operational needs, environmental impact and legislative compliance. Equipment and technology decisions must be supported by recognised testing standards, repeatable methodologies and fact-based performance data.

Responsibilities:

• Identifying and vetting articles and suppliers
• Documenting specifications
• Ensuring a competitive rate and suitable quality
• Preparing documents and presentations for executives to approve changes to pricing, article specification, article range and approved vendors

What you'll do:

• Procurement:
• Maintain registers and records of approved equipment range, specifications, pricing and vendor portfolios
• Write, maintain and enforce technical specifications for refrigeration equipment, systems and components
• Manage formal procurement processes, including RFI and RFQ exercises, technical evaluations and supplier vetting
• Evaluate technical and commercial proposals
• Prepare cost comparisons, total cost of ownership models, business cases, reports and executive presentations
• Support supplier negotiations
• Maintain accurate approved article records
• Vendor Management:
• Manage relationships with OEMs, suppliers, consultants and contractors
• Resolve service, quality, conformance and performance issues
• Visit factories, suppliers and installations
• Conduct technical reviews, supplier assessments and ad hoc conformance checks
• Monitor supplier and equipment performance
• Drive corrective action
• Provide objective oversight of technical service providers
• Standards, Technology and Compliance:
• Develop and maintain the Group’s refrigeration standards, preferred technologies and measurable equipment requirements
• Monitor developments in equipment, controls, energy efficiency, refrigerants and system methodologies
• Assess the technical, operational, environmental and commercial implications of alternative solutions
• Monitor legislation and environmental requirements
• Ensure selected equipment and systems comply with applicable legislation, recognised standards and internal requirements
• Research, Development and Testing:
• Research and develop concepts
• Compare products, technologies, refrigerants and engineering methodologies
• Identify recognised national and international testing standards
• Plan and execute laboratory, factory and field tests
• Establish benchmarks
• Quantify lifecycle performance
• Drive improvements in capital cost, energy use, maintenance, reliability and total cost of ownership
• Communication and Operational Support:
• Engage internal stakeholders
• Communicate approved specification, range, supplier, price and technology changes
• Support divisions and project teams
• Coordinate consultant, contractor, OEM, supplier and internal input
• Provide concise progress updates, findings, risks and recommendations to the Head of Procurement Engineering

What you bring:

• Essential: Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical, Mechatronic, or Industrial Engineering. Minimum 5 years' experience in procurement engineering, refrigeration engineering, project engineering, design engineering, or a related technical role. Demonstrable experience in equipment and machinery procurement, technical procurement, product development, or engineering project delivery. Ability to review and assess technical proposals, designs, drawings, calculations, standards, and specifications. Experience in technical testing, measurement, data analysis, and evidence-based equipment comparison. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to prepare concise technical reports, business cases, and executive presentations.
• Preferred: Exposure to thermodynamics, heat transfer, energy systems, and refrigeration engineering as part of academic studies or professional experience. Experience working with refrigeration systems and engineering equipment performance assessments.
• Advantageous: Retail refrigeration experience. Sound knowledge of refrigerants, energy efficiency principles, and applicable legislation/regulatory requirements. Experience evaluating refrigeration technologies and sustainable energy solutions.