Buyer

YASA Limited; Oxford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

YASA Limited is recruiting a Commodity Buyer to own strategic supplier relationships, develop commodity strategies and lead sourcing for new programmes. You will collaborate with Engineering, Programme Management, Suppliers and Operations to ensure timely, cost-effective, high-quality inputs.

The role requires strong negotiation, market data skills and experience in automotive/manufacturing environments, with hybrid working 2–3 days in the office and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role within automotive/manufacturing.
• Knowledge of raw material market data, indices and platforms.
• Strong cost management and cost reduction capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to travel; hybrid work with office presence 2–3 days.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate contracts, prices and terms with suppliers and review opportunities for savings.
• Lead the Matched Trio team during commodity sourcing for new projects.
• Ensure continuous supply of materials and communicate risks to business operations.
• Support and resolve commercial issues in the production supply chain.
• Develop commodity strategies and manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Negotiation

Procurement

Cost reduction

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Supply chain management

Data analysis

Automotive industry

Team collaboration

NAV experience

Education

MCIPS or studying towards CIPS

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Job description

At YASA, we're helping shape the future of clean mobility through world-leading electric motor technology. As part of Mercedes-Benz, we combine the agility, curiosity and pioneering spirit of a scale-up with the strength and ambition of a global automotive leader. Our success is built on talented people who work together to solve complex problems, challenge assumptions and continuously improve. We're ambitious about our goals, but equally committed to creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and trusted to do their best work. Whether you're in engineering, manufacturing or a business function, you'll be part of a team where your contribution matters, and where great ideas can come from anyone, are encouraged, and can make a real difference.

The Commodity Buyer acts as the single point of accountability for their commodity, owning all commercial and supply chain activities from initial concept through to end-of-life. Working closely with Engineering, Programme Management, Suppliers, and Operations, they ensure supplier selection, development, readiness, and industrialisation activities are delivered successfully to support programme timing, cost, quality, and performance targets

Key responsibilities will include:

• Negotiating contracts, prices and terms of business with suppliers and reviewing opportunities to make business savings utilising negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods
• Lead the Matched Trio team during the sourcing of commodities for new projects reporting progress to the Programme Purchasing team
• Ensuring a continuous supply of required goods and materials during the relevant development phase and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations
• Supporting and resolving commercial issues in the production supply chain
• Developing commodity strategies for own commodities
• Assisting with the purchase and supply chain of global production for specified projects through negotiated costs with suppliers anddeliver value to the business
• Purchasing goods, materials, components or services in line with the specified cost, quality and delivery targets
• Researching and evaluating areas of opportunity and reduce costs where possible
• Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement
• Stakeholder engagement at all levels both internally and with our external suppliers
• Researching and owning the strategic relationships with suppliers and subcontractors
• Supporting product change requests during the development phases and review and communicate the impact on capacity plans
• Developing and improving Procurement processes as required.
• For personal growth and where required support XP/Experiment projects, prototypes and the negotiation of Indirects contracts
• Act as escalation for the Logistics team in relation to delivery/commercial issues and for the STA team as required
• Own strategic relationship with suppliers
• Hybrid working with at least 2-3 days in the office
• Ability to travel as required.

Skills and experience required:

• Previous proven experience within a similar role
• Experience working in an automotive or manufacturing environment
• Previous exposure and experience to working with raw material market data, indices & platforms
• Strong technical knowledge and understanding of automotive processes and components and supply chain management
• Experience of stakeholder management
• Experience in supplier/customer relationship management
• Understanding of cost drivers in a manufacturing environment and experience in leading cost reduction activities
• Results orientated with the ability to plan and deliver against project deadlines
• An organised approach with good businessacumen
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to work effectively with teams
• Good IT skills including PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Good understanding of the need for diplomacy and confidentiality
• Self-motivated with a can-do attitude
• Proactively contributes to the team
• Flexible approach to work
• Experience of using Microsoft Dynamics Navision (NAV)
• Experience of working within a Tier 1 Automotive environment
• MCIPS or studying towards CIPS qualification.