As a Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for Direct Operations (Production) procurement, sourcing the components and materials that go directly into vehicle manufacturing.
12 month contract
Hybrid - 2 days a week in office
Paying £33 an hour
You’ll manage the full procurement lifecycle across a complex Bill of Materials (BOM), including:
* Sourcing automotive components and production materials
* Supplier selection across Tier 1 and Tier 2 networks
* Leading pricing, cost breakdown, and contract negotiations
* Managing purchase orders and contract administration
* Driving supplier performance, quality, and delivery (OTIF)
* Supporting strategic sourcing and cost-down initiatives
you’ll act as a subject matter expert, managing complex procurement projects with minimal oversight.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead commercial negotiations with key automotive suppliers
* Deliver cost reduction and value engineering initiatives across the BOM
* Build and maintain strong supplier relationships within global supply chains
* Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and programme teams
* Support new product introduction (NPI), including APQP / PPAP processes
* Mitigate supply risk in a JIT / production-critical environment
* Ensure robust contract management and compliance
What We’re Looking For
We’re keen to speak with candidates who bring:
* Proven experience in automotive or advanced manufacturing procurement
* Strong understanding of direct procurement and production environments
* Experience working with Tier 1 / Tier 2 suppliers
* Knowledge of BOM structures and cost breakdown analysis
* Track record of delivering cost savings and commercial value
* Strong stakeholder engagement across technical and non-technical teams
* Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, or similar quality frameworks (desirable)