Procurement Buyer
12 hours ago
Cambridge
Job Title: Buyer/Procurement/Purchasing (Aerospace & Defence) Location: Cambridge – with flexible travel across the UK and Europe Job Type: Full time Industry: Aerospace/Defence | Start-ups & Scale-ups Reports to: Head of Manufacturing For this role... The ideal candidate will have experience coming through the ranks from a manufacturing environment, keeping track of their career through buying, purchasing, procurement and ideally has good knowledge of the whole manufacturing process, or is a qualified engineer themselves. You will have a good understanding of budgeting, commercials, forecasting, and a bonus if you have come from a start-up or scale-up company, ideally from automotive, aerospace or electronic component manufacturing. About the Role... We are seeking an experienced Procurement buyer to assist managers with our end-to-end supply chain function. The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience in with purchasing, buying and procurement ideally from a technical engineering sector. Key Responsibilities Procurement Management (Direct & Indirect) • Lead sourcing and procurement activities for direct materials, indirect goods, and services., • Develop procurement strategies that align with company goals, budget constraints, and regulatory compliance. Supplier Management • assist with supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and ongoing performance management., • help with long-term and short-term commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing and strong service-level agreements. Cost Optimisation • Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process efficiency. Forecasting & Planning • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure material availability., • Integrate forecasting into procurement and stock planning systems to support operational continuity. BOM Analysis & Alignment • Conduct deep-dive analysis of Bills of Materials to optimise sourcing and validate costing accuracy., • Work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to support product lifecycle requirements. Inventory & Stores Control • Oversee all aspects of inventory management, including stock accuracy, safety stock, and turnover., • Implement robust stores control procedures and continuous improvement measures. Compliance & Standards • Ensure adherence to applicable industry standards and regulations (e.g., AS9100, ISO, MOD/defence procurement protocols). Qualifications & Experience Essential: • 5+ years of progressive buying, procurement, supply chain experience., • Strong background in start-up and scale-up environments., • Industry expertise in defence, automotive, and/or aerospace sectors., • Track record in direct and indirect procurement, supplier management, negotiation, and cost optimisation., • Experience in forecasting, BOM analysis, stock management, and stores operations. Desirable: • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field., • Professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, APICS, Lean Six Sigma)., • ERP/MRP system proficiency (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite). Key Skills: • End-to-end procurement, • Supplier development and management, • Inventory planning and stores control, • BOM analysis and cost control, • Process design and operational scaling