We are currently looking for a Senior Buyer
A little about us:
With over a century of engineering expertise and innovation, KNDS UK is a renowned world leader in rapidly deployable military bridging systems and a key partner in the UK MoD’s Boxer armoured vehicle programme.
We are proud of our heritage and our reputation of providing the highest quality engineering solutions for over 100 years. As a trusted partner to military customers around the world, our employees are the very heart of our company. We have a skilled and experienced workforce dedicated to achieving excellence in all areas of the business from Engineering to Project Management, Business Support to Operations.
As our business evolves, we are looking to strengthen our workforce with talented and motivated individuals across a range of disciplines to work from our Northwest Engineering Centre of Excellence and currently have this opportunity available:
About the role:
With responsibility for supporting the delivery of Boxer and Bridge Manufacturing Programmes, this role requires the candidate to develop a number of strategic supplier relationships in UK and Europe, ensuring delivery of technically compliant materials and services in a timely manner. The post holder will own all aspects of the procurement function from sourcing and contracting the supplier, through to supplier management and facilitating resolution of any supply constraints with internal and external stakeholders, always compliant to formal governance. Key duties include, but are not limited to:
1. Working within a new strategic Procurement function to develop and deliver strategy for high value materials and critical suppliers (in UK and Europe), for on-time delivery of technically compliant materials and services.
2. Working with the parent organisation and group companies and key partners to determine joint purchasing strategy and to ensure competitive commercial positions on current and future bids.
3. Creation of Procurement inputs such as Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Quotation (RFQs), in support of international bid campaigns and spares packages.
4. Timely sourcing of goods or services and placement of commercial records on system, and to evaluate supplier responses cross functionally to formalise selection, ensuring actions are closed prior to order placement.
5. Develop strategic supplier relationships and regular communication/video meetings/supplier visits.
6. Negotiation with suppliers on pricing, lead time and commercial terms, ensuring budget robustness and programme compliance is captured in specific flow downs. Actively provide significant savings and spend avoidance.
7. Facilitation of problem escalation and resolution including but not limited to invoice, technical, quality issues. May require joint approach with various departments and/or group companies.
8. Manage supplier relationships and facilitate supplier reviews ensuring all reports and actions formalised and followed through both from the supplier and internal departments.
9. Validate supplier metrics and verify reasons for non-compliance. Actively drive supplier improvement activity, where metrics are not consistent and or acceptable.
10. Identify supply chain risks and proactively support mitigation activity – recognise external factors that could impact supply chain.
11. Working with Programme Management, Systems Engineering and Configuration Management to ensure BoM and schedule alignment.
12. Categorising part portfolios for commodity resourcing for cost saving projects.
13. Represent procurement at project meetings.
14. Work Cross departmentally with Production | Quality | Design.
15. Ensure any Supplier modifications, obsolescence and equipment development programmes are managed within the agreed project timescales and budget. Responsible to manage risk and opportunities and ensure regular and clear communication with all stakeholders.
16. Dynamically provide support/coverage other parts of the procurement function when and as necessary.
What we’re looking for:
Applications from candidates who can demonstrate the following requirements will be considered, however, if you do not meet all the requirements, please explain why you are suitable for the position:
1. Minimum of grade C in English and Maths at GCSE
2. Business or Engineering qualification
3. Ideally working towards CIPS membership (Level 4 or higher)
4. Willing to travel (Europe)
5. Full UK driving licence
6. Proven Engineering Supply chain and procurement experience (ideally min. 6 years) in a manufacturing environment.
7. Supply Chain/Procurement experience gained in defence or highly governed environment.
8. Experience of using SAP or other MRP system.
9. Microsoft Excel Intermediary level, with the ability to manipulate spreadsheets and report data analysis.
10. Ability to evaluate and negotiate standard commercial terms & contracts.
11. Read engineering drawings and experience of understanding Bills of Materials structures.
12. Experience of first-time sourcing/new product development.
13. Must be able to evaluate supplier capabilities.
14. Ability to present data / information in group settings.
15. Established negotiation skills with internal stakeholders and strategic partners.
16. Experience procurement of Raw Materials e.g. Metals – Standard/Exotic
What you can expect from us:
We signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2018, achieved their Silver Award in 2020 and the Gold Award in 2024, which means that we actively support and encourage service leavers, reservists and cadets to join our team, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process. When you become part of the KNDS UK team, you will enjoy employee benefits such as:
1. Life assurance scheme
2. Company sick pay scheme which increases with service
3. Free unreserved car parking
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply by clicking the link at the top of the page or email your CV with a cover letter to careers@knds.co.uk.
We look forward to receiving your application!
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