Programme Buyer

We are recruiting for a Programme Buyer to join our fantastic Procurement department in Woking, As the Programme Buyer you will be responsible for working within the Category Strategies for your area of responsibility, to influence early Vehicle Line Delivery (VLD) & Engineering thinking on sourcing and technology, and to deliver all Procurement activities for your commodities throughout the programme delivery, up to and including job one plus 90 days. This role requires strong cross functional working skills and will require strong influence and discipline to work with the Commodity Procurement team to ensure the programmes adhere to the Category Strategies, whilst working alongside the Vehicle Line Delivery team to deliver all the Procurement requirements for the programmes. The position should also champion their suppliers' input to Design for Manufacture (DFM). What You'll Do

• Working closely with the Commodity Procurement team to understand the Category Strategies for their commodity area, including ensuring they are up to date, relevant for the new programmes' requirements, and available on time.
• Running the RFQ process in line with the Category Strategies, whilst ensuring competitive tension is maintained, to deliver the best possible commercial and technology result for McLaren, according to the programme's timing requirements;
• Analysing and interrogating the suppliers' RFQ responses to deliver on time, comprehensive, like for like, quotations and to deliver the best possible total cost picture for sharing with the Commodity Procurement team for final negotiation and contracting;
• Building strong relationships with their opposite numbers(s) within the VLD and Engineering to ensure robust cross functional cooperation between Programme Procurement and the VLD & Engineering teams, to deliver 'one voice' to the McLaren supplier base, in turn delivering the best cost and technology solutions for the new programmes;
• Working closely with the Procurement Project Managers, to ensure all procurement activities for their commodity areas are completed on time for the new programmes;
• Understanding the programmes' requirements for supplier pre-production parts to support programme builds and ensure these requirements are met. At the same time, balance early production supplier involvement to maximise Design for Manufacture (DFM) input whilst maintaining competitive tension.
• Working with VLD and Engineering to maximise their suppliers' expert design and process input (DFM) into the programmes' assumptions, to deliver the most cost effective and reliable parts solutions;
• Delivering timely supplier responses to ECR's, whilst ensuring, at all times, that quotations are fully interrogated for best value for money, and robustly challenge the VLD & Engineering teams when supplier feedback identifies better or more cost effective solutions;
• Building a close relationship with the SQD Engineers for their commodity area to ensure close working to deliver seamlessly the cost, timing and quality programme requirements relating to suppliers;
• Ensuring supplier tooling costs are fully interrogated (if necessary, with support from Commodity Procurement and Engineering) and that subsequently the tooling is delivered on time and to cost, in line with the programmes' requirements;
• Ensuring the tooling / asset register is fully maintained, throughout the programme development, in line with McLaren's requirements, including photographic records of the tools with McLaren asset tags attached;
• Being a subject matter expert regarding the suppliers within their commodity area and fully conversant with the manufacturing processes & cost drivers
  
  A university degree in Business or Engineering (ideally automotive, aerospace or mechanical), or similar, is preferred but not essential;
• Professionally qualified to MCIPS level or equivalent, or working towards completion, is preferred;
• Deep understanding of the Procurement function and processes, and demonstrable experience of managing multi-national suppliers.
• At least 3 years' experience as a buyer and senior buyer with an Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
• Alternatively, a minimum of 3 years' experience as a buyer within a manufacturing business or First Tier Automotive supplier.
• Experience of delivering procurement activities for new programmes, aligned to category strategies and through cross functional collaboration with Engineering;
• Well proven skills in Quotation Analysis Form (QAF) interrogation with a good understanding of suppliers' cost drivers.
• Well versed in successfully delivering multi million pound negotiations for direct materials at senior level with suppliers. Be a role model to demonstrate 'what good looks like';
• Experience of high volume and niche vehicle Procurement, with the ability to apply best practice as appropriate;
• Experienced with financial analysis for assessing suppliers' health and for building business cases internally
  
  No restraints. No limitations. We don't simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.
It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.


• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies including market leading maternity leave
• Tax efficient nursery scheme benefit
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice
• Friends and family day
• Opportunities to experience our fantastic cars