Senior Projects Buyer

Overview

In this role, you will own complex procurement projects within a fast-moving, high-performance manufacturing environment. You’ll collaborate with Engineering and cross-functional teams to secure robust supply chain solutions, focusing on cost reduction, supplier development, and risk mitigation. You’ll gain hands-on experience on a major automotive programme, from early supplier selection to delivering a manufacturable, high-quality bill of materials. You will shape sourcing strategies and contribute to the program’s success by driving commercial and technical excellence.

Pay / Benefits

• Flexible working after probation
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Private healthcare
• Employee Share Trust participation
• EV car salary sacrifice scheme

Responsibilities

• Own procurement projects and deliver against defined business requirements
• Generate RFIs/RFQs, evaluate responses, lead supplier down-selection, support contract award
• Identify, develop and onboard new supply partners
• Manage supplier selection and development activities
• Develop and execute supplier agreements as needed
• Evaluate and monitor supplier performance against project deliverables
• Build strong supplier relationships and conduct supplier reviews
• Support and drive cost reduction across BOM, assembly cost, and lead times
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial performance via alternative sourcing
• Use purchasing metrics to measure project success and delivery
• Support continuous improvement initiatives
• Assess supply chain risks and create mitigation plans
• Facilitate DFM reviews with designers and suppliers
• Support concurrent engineering to improve manufacturability and reduce lead times
• Work with Quality to manage non-conformances and controls during changes
• Support supplier audits and ensure quality requirements
• Promote innovation within the supply base and identify capability improvements
• Collaborate cross-functionally to keep projects on track

Key requirements

• Extensive Senior Buyer experience in a complex manufacturing environment
• Strong project procurement and purchase project management experience
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems in purchasing
• Supplier selection, development and performance management experience
• Proven RFIs, RFQs, negotiation and supplier down-selection
• Experience delivering cost-saving initiatives and identifying commercial opportunities
• Understanding of BOM cost and drivers behind component/assembly costs
• Experience with DFM and concurrent engineering with Engineering and suppliers
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence at all levels
• Excellent project and time management skills with milestone focus
• Experience managing supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost and risk
• Strong problem-solving and collaborative resolution abilities
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Resilience to work under pressure and ability to work autonomously
• Commercial acumen and ability to build compelling business cases
• Background in automotive, aerospace, defence, or other complex manufacturing (beneficial)

• Stakeholder management
• Strong communication
• Resilience under pressure
• ERP/MRP systems
• RFIs/RFQs
• Supplier selection and performance management

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