Location: Bournemouth
Working pattern: Monday - Thursday 08:00 - 16:00, Friday 08:00 - 15: hours per week.
Draken believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.
The Role
We're looking for an experienced Senior Buyer to support our Operational Procurement function, ensuring the compliant, cost‑effective and on‑time acquisition of materials that keep our fleet mission‑ready. If you thrive in a regulated, fast‑paced environment and enjoy building strong supplier relationships, this is an exciting opportunity to make an impact.
Reporting to the Head of Purchasing, and managing a small team of Buyers, you'll be responsible for the professional delivery of Operational Procurement activities across aircraft rotables, consumables, raw materials, and indirect items. You'll ensure full compliance with all Aviation and Trade Control requirements while supporting continuous improvement across procurement processes.
You will work closely with internal teams, external suppliers and regulatory bodies, acting as a key point of expertise for procurement and logistics within the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Efficient and cost‑effective procurement of:
Aircraft components
Standard parts
Aircraft and non‑aircraft consumables
Raw materials
Non‑stock and indirect items
Support the development and improvement of OP‑R / OP‑C processes and procedures.
Provide procurement guidance, expertise and communications to stakeholders.
Ensure full compliance with applicable Aviation and Trade Control Regulations including EASA, UK CAA and UK MAA.
Work strictly within the scope of company approvals, manuals and procedures.
Maintain accurate procurement records in line with regulatory and company requirements.
Support the company Safety Management System (SMS), including risk controls and reporting of safety-related concerns.
Maintain a robust first line of defence for quality and compliance.
Ensure on-time, effective delivery of procurement activities.
Manage financial performance in line with budget and contractual KPIs.
Desired Experience & Qualifications
Core Competencies
Strong operational knowledge of Procurement & Supply Chain processes.
Proven experience in a similar role (Aerospace/Defence experience preferred).
Previous experience of leading / managing a team or other leadership skills is preferrable
Experience in sourcing raw materials
Understanding of Trade Control Regulations and Ethical Standards.
Working knowledge of UK CAA, EASA and/or Military Aviation Regulations.
GCSE-level education (5 subjects at Grade C or above) or relevant industry experience.
Degree and/or MCIPS accreditation - advantageous.
Experience developing key supplier relationships - advantageous.
Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and Safety Management Systems - advantageous.
Eligible to obtain SC-level security clearance.
Personal Skills & Attributes
Excellent communicator able to build strong relationships at all levels.
Confident negotiator with strong influencing skills.
Self-motivated, resilient and able to work under pressure.
Highly organised with strong time management and ability to meet tight deadlines.
Creative problem solver with commercial awareness.
Proficient in MS Office and able to learn company software systems.
Our employee values
Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.
At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.
We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.
In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.
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Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary-wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.
Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.