Contract Strategic Buyer

High Wycombe
9 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Avionics Supervisor

Sales Manager (Service Focussed - Engines)

Head of Discipline – Propulsion Systems

Director of Defence and Security

Head of Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering

CONTRACT STRATEGIC BUYER

Immediate start available

6 months rolling contract

Monday – Friday (early finish Friday)

This role is Inside IR35

Opportunity for a talented Strategic Buyer to undertake a varied contract role with a leading manufacturing business.  Due to continued investment and product innovation they are seeking a Strategic Buyer from an engineering background to undertake a key purchasing role.

You will take responsibility for leading the key phases of both strategic and tactical supply chain / purchasing activity at a commodity level.  This will include supplier selection, audit, contract negotiation, implementation and support of production and test build phases.

Key accountabilities for Strategic Buyer will include:

Take a lead role in sourcing activities and negotiations
Identifying potential suppliers with the ability to offer new, innovative products that support programme objectives.
Supplier evaluation to mitigate risk and optimise advantage for current and future products and programs
Working with potential suppliers and the programme team to identify opportunities to reduce weight, cost and quality issues
Work to develop/maintain a minimum number of suppliers that the company can adopt a close “partnership sourcing” approach to minimise cost and increase profit through the supply chain
In conjunction with the supply chain manager and legal team, create & maintain supply agreements and lead negotiations
Monitoring and reporting on supplier performance
Work with the engineering team to achieve bill of material cost targets for product designs 

The ideal Buyer will be:

A CIPS qualified Buyer with an electro-mechanical commodity background within a manufacturing business.  

Regulated industry background – automotive, aerospace, medical or similar 

Outstanding negotiation and sourcing acumen 

A proven track record of achievement in a similar strategic purchasing role. 

First class communication and supplier relationship skills are essential.  

Please  apply via the link or contact Alison Kemp for further details

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Space Sector Job Applications (UK Guide)

The space industry is one of the most exciting and multidisciplinary sectors in technology and engineering today. Whether you’re applying for roles in spacecraft design, aerospace systems, robotics, satellite communications, mission operations, payload engineering, space software, ground systems, or scientific research, your application must quickly show hiring managers that you are relevant, technically credible and ready to deliver. In the UK space jobs market — spanning organisations from startups to defence primes, agencies, research labs and commercial constellations — hiring managers do not read every word of your CV. They scan applications rapidly, often making a judgement about whether to read further within the first 10–20 seconds. This guide breaks down exactly what hiring managers look for first in space sector applications, how they assess CVs and portfolios, why specific signals matter, and how you can position your experience to stand out on www.ukspacejobs.co.uk .

The Skills Gap in UK Space Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

The UK space sector is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing high-tech industries in the world. From Earth observation and satellite communications to space robotics, launch systems and deep-space exploration, the breadth of opportunity is enormous. The UK Government’s ambition to capture a significant share of the global space economy has driven investment, policy support and a wave of innovative companies — both established and start-up. Yet despite strong academic programmes and a pipeline of graduates with relevant degrees, employers in the UK space sector consistently report a persistent problem: Many graduates are not prepared for real-world space industry jobs. This is not a matter of intelligence or motivation. Rather, it reflects a growing skills gap between what universities are teaching and what employers actually need from space professionals. In this article, we’ll explore why that gap exists, what universities are doing well, where they fall short, what employers want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build thriving careers in the UK space sector.

UK Space Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

The UK space sector is no longer a niche reserved for astronauts and rocket scientists. It is a broad, fast-growing industry covering satellites, Earth observation, navigation, telecoms, space data, launch services, space sustainability and defence-related capability. That breadth creates genuine career opportunities for professionals switching careers in their 30s, 40s or 50s — especially in roles where delivery, quality, operations, safety, regulation and customer outcomes matter as much as pure engineering. This article gives you a UK reality check: what space jobs actually look like, which roles are realistic for career switchers, what skills UK employers value, how long retraining tends to take and whether age is a barrier (usually far less than people fear).