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:

The primary purpose of this role is to own specified categories and suppliers to define and embed an agile and sustainable supply chain that supports the production ramp-up of the Boxer and Bridge Manufacturing Programmes. The candidate will have the responsibility for development of several strategic supplier relationships across the UK and Europe, ensuring delivery of technically compliant materials and services in a timely manner. The job entails the ownership of all aspects of procurement 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:

• Working within the 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.

• Creation of Procurement inputs such as Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Quotation (RFQs), in support of international bid campaigns and spares packages.

• Timely sourcing of goods or services and placement of commercial award, following evaluation of supplier proposals to formalise supplier selection based on quality, cost and delivery performance.

• Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships and regular communication.

• Supplier negotiations to achieve best pricing / costs, lead time and commercial terms, ensuring alignment to budget and programme requirements. 

• Actively seek to deliver significant savings and cost avoidance.

• Facilitation of problem escalation and resolution including supplier payment, technical, quality and delivery escalation issues. Working cross functionally and acting as the prime coordinator between KNDS and suppliers.

• Manage supplier relationships and facilitate supplier reviews ensuring all reports and actions formalised and followed through both from the supplier and internal departments.

• Validate and monitor supplier performance metrics. Actively drive supplier improvement activity, where metrics are not consistent and / or acceptable.

• Identify and manage supply chain risks, proactively leading and supporting mitigation activity – recognise and respond to external factors with the potential to impact the supply chain.

• Working with Programme Management, Systems Engineering and Configuration Management to ensure BoM and schedule alignment. 

• Categorising part portfolios for commodity resourcing for cost saving projects.

• Represent procurement at project meetings.

• Ensure design modifications, obsolescence and equipment development programmes are managed within the agreed project timescales and budget. 

• Align with the wider KNDS group procurement function and key partners to determine joint purchasing strategy and to ensure competitive commercial positions on current and future bids.

What we’re looking for:

Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Minimum of grade 5 or C in English and Maths at GCSE

• Proven Supply Chain / Procurement experienced

• Background of Procurement experience within an engineering and manufacturing environment

• Proficient and fully conversant with Microsoft Excel, with the ability to manipulate data and spreadsheets to produce data analysis reports.

• Ability to present data / information in group settings.

• Established negotiation skills with internal stakeholders and strategic partners.

• Excellent negotiation & communication skills - with the ability to build strong supplier and internal relationships and influence stakeholders.

• Ability to evaluate and negotiate standard commercial terms & contracts.

• Must be able to evaluate supplier capabilities.

• Commercially Aware - able to review and assess proposals and identify risk.

• Read engineering drawings and experience of understanding Bills of Materials structures. 

• Able to work to deadlines and be flexible to changing conditions (A team player).

• Proactive attitude, self-motivated with desire to get things done with a sense of urgency.

• Ability to work quickly and accurately with attention to detail.

• Ability to prioritise and organise work with minimal supervision.

• An eagerness to learn.

• Ability to request support and delegate duties to meet multiple and potentially conflicting deliverables.

Why you should join us:

When you become part of the KNDS UK team, you will enjoy employee benefits such as:

• Competitive salary

• Attractive pension (4% employee contribution, 7% employer contribution)

• Half-day Friday

• Life assurance scheme

• Company sick pay scheme which increases with service

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Additional Holidays & other Long Service rewards

• Wellbeing initiatives, such as Free Fruit on Tuesday’s

• Cycle to work Scheme

• Free on-site car parking

• On-site electric vehicle charging points

We’re also very proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant since 2018, achieving their Silver Award in 2020 and Gold Award in 2024. 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.

If you are passionate about Procurement and eager to contribute to a thriving workplace environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Recruiters please note that we have a list of approved recruitment agency partners in place and we will contact agencies directly should we require support. Any unsolicited CV’s received via an agency will be accepted with thanks but without fee.