Buyer - Powertrain

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Enhanced company pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance & healthCash

Life assurance

Sabbatical after two years

Wellbeing initiatives

Discounted shopping

Generous parental leave

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Commodity Buyer to join the Procurement Department in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment. You will report to the Procurement Manager and collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Production and Legal teams to secure the best technology, cost, and quality for McLaren's Powertrain commodities.

The role focuses on leading sourcing activities, developing supplier strategies, and delivering contracts and value across the Powertrain portfolio.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Engineering or related field is preferred.
• MCIPS qualification is desirable.
• Solid procurement experience in manufacturing, ideally automotive.
• Experience developing structured commodity strategies including risk and cost assessment.
• Experience negotiating complex contracts.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and finalize production supplier contracts for assigned commodities.
• Mitigate cost increases and drive cost-down activities within scope.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Supplier Quality to develop and deploy sourcing strategies.
• Conduct supplier assessments and coordinate sourcing recommendations.
• Ensure suppliers meet program targets for timing, cost, quality and technical attributes.
• Serve as focal point for Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities with suppliers and internal customers.
• Support risk assessment, total cost of ownership analysis, and cross-functional alignment on technical and quality criteria

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Cost analysis

Supplier relationship management

Analytical mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Learning and development

Education

Degree in Business/Engineering or related field

MCIPS qualification desirable

Job description

The McLaren Automotive Procurement Department is an exciting yet demanding, fast paced and commercially driven environment.

The successful candidate will be working as part of a high performing and agile team, with direct report into the Powertrain Purchasing Manager. Cross functional engagement with our Engineering, Quality, Production and Legal Teams is vital for successful delivery and performance.

Reporting to the Procurement Manager, the Commodity Buyer is responsible for negotiating and completing supplier contracts within the Powertrain commodity group. The role involves leading sourcing activities and developing supplier strategies in collaboration with Engineering and Supplier Quality, ensuring McLaren leverages the best technology, cost, and quality for the future of the company.

What You'll Do

• The Commodity Buyer is accountable for the following key activities:
• Negotiate and finalize production supplier contracts for assigned commodities.
• Mitigate cost increases and drive cost-down activities within scope.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Supplier Quality to develop and deploy sourcing strategies.
• Conduct supplier assessments and coordinate sourcing recommendations.
• Ensure suppliers meet program targets for timing, cost, quality, and technical attributes.
• Serve as the focal point for Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities with suppliers and internal customers.
• Support risk assessment, total acquisition cost analysis, and cross-functional alignment on technical and quality criteria

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field preferred; MCIPS qualification desirable.
• Previous purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment (automotive preferred).
• Solid experience in procurement or commodity buying.
• Experience in developing structured commodity strategies, including risk and cost assessments.
• Some experience negotiating complex contracts.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to influence at senior management level.
• Good understanding of cost breakdown analysis.
• Analytical mindset and attention to detail.
• Ability to build strong supplier relationships.
• Collaborative approach with cross-functional teams.
• Eagerness to learn and develop within the procurement function.

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice

Who Are We?

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.