Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Sr. Buyer manages all aspects of indirect purchasing and projects to support existing and future growth. Interfaces with project leads & engineering to carry out all procurement activity from RFQ to supplier selection and implementing robust contracts. Leads the supply chain project to execute delivery on time to meet site requirements. Ensures that project sourcing aligns with corporate practices, procedures, and export compliance. Interacts closely with Program Management, Engineering, New Business Development and Supply Chain teams to ensure all aspects of SCM are represented during project launch and execution.

Job Responsibilities

• Quote, buy, and maintenance specified commodities from suppliers.
• Responsible for ensuring delivery in line with operational performance requirements from suppliers across a scope of 10m spend
• Responsible for supplier scheduling in line with MPS and the accuracy of supplier and procured parts data within the MRP system to ensure that demand signals minimize shortages and eliminate unwanted inventory
• Responsible for the daily maintenance of supplier promise dates to ensure that the most up-to-date and accurate information is held within the supplier schedules
• Contribute towards and support the Procurement Operations Manager or Site Procurement Manager to deliver the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process in regards to external supply reviews
• Management of suppliers to ensure that they can deliver against committed orders, identification of supply risk, constraints and bottleneck, cost reduction, cost savings and cost avoidance and implement to meet company objectives, escalating as required
• Maintain external capacity reviews in line with MPS
• Responsible for on-going supplier performance improvement
• Responsible for the supplier relationship and daily interface
• Responsible for ensuring multi-function team reviews are taking place with key suppliers
• Daily communication with internal customers and receiving areas
• Responsible for the adherence to standard procurement processes and daily regimen/management tasks
• Ownership of the supplier scorecard process to ensure that supplier performance is communicated to all levels of the supplier and is regularly reviewed as part of multifunction team reviews
• Support SQE on supplier non-conformance and processing of supplier returns and claims
• Ensure prompt supplier payment by clearing any invoice queries
• Ensure adherence to the Health and Safety policies and procedure.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, project management, engineering, procurement or other relevant technical field in a manufacturing environment.(Aerospace experience preferred).
• 3 years of commodity/contract negotiations experience
• Must be a US Citizen due to program requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• GKN Experience
• Strong complex supplier sourcing experience preferred 
• Ability to interact with people of different levels inside/ outside the company and to operate within a team to reach team goals and business objectives
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong personal computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, & PowerPoint) 
• Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to empower others to achieve results through motivation, recognition and performance feedback.
• Ability to express information in a manner appropriate to different levels of people & to lead and close out negotiations.
• Ability to recognize, respond to customer expectations with sense of urgency.
• Ability to take full responsibility for decisions & results even when all elements are not under individual direct control.
• Experience in implementing industry leading best practices.
• Proven ability in strategy deployment.
• Proven project management techniques.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology. ​
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