Commodity Buyer

Alexander Dennis; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation company based in Farnborough is seeking a Commodity Buyer to manage supplier relationships and drive cost-reduction initiatives. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and a relevant qualification in Purchasing. The role offers opportunities for progression and competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension

Wellbeing support

Cycle to work scheme

Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits

Qualifications

• At least 3 years’ experience in a similar procurement role.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive cost-reduction initiatives and supplier performance improvements.
• Support material planning and procurement strategy development.
• Create commodity strategies and manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Supplier management skills

Communication abilities

Education

Professional qualification in Purchasing or Supply (CIPS)

Business or Engineering university degree

Tools

Common IT systems

Job description

Job Title: Commodity Buyer

Location: Farnborough

Our Vision & Why It Matters

At Alexander Dennis, our vision is to lead the evolution of sustainable on‑road mass transportation and mobility. We design, deliver, and support market‑leading buses and coaches that help reduce emissions, improve air quality, and keep communities connected. Every role contributes to that mission, whether you're engineering, driving sales, improving production, or supporting our customers.

What You’ll Do

As a Commodity Buyer within our Global Powertrain Procurement team, you’ll take ownership of a defined group of commodities, driving cost‑reduction initiatives and supplier performance improvements. You’ll support material planning enhancements and contribute to the development of procurement strategies aligned with short, medium, and long‑term business goals. This role offers a clear path to progression into a Commodity Manager position for the right candidate. You’ll be responsible for creating commodity strategies, managing supplier relationships, issuing RFQs and tenders, and identifying opportunities for commercial gain. You’ll also monitor market trends, negotiate contracts, and ensure supplier performance through scorecards and stakeholder engagement.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a commercially astute procurement professional with at least 3 years’ experience in a similar role. You’ll have strong negotiation and supplier management skills, excellent communication abilities, and the confidence to influence outcomes across cross‑functional teams. A professional qualification in Purchasing or Supply (e.g. CIPS) or a relevant business degree is preferred.

Bonus if you have:

• Business or Engineering university degree
• Relevant procurement and engineering qualifications
• Fluent English and proficiency in common IT systems

What We Offer

• Impact: Be part of something that’s changing cities, improving air quality, helping public transport evolve
• Development & Growth: Training programmes, mentorship, opportunities to take on new roles, broaden skills
• Culture & Belonging: An inclusive environment; your voice matters; we treat people fairly
• Perks & Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, wellbeing support, cycle to work scheme, enhanced maternity and paternity benefits

Our Values - What Guides Us

• Safety: The health and wellbeing of our team members, and the safety of our products, are our top priority
• Quality: We strive for excellence in our products, services, and all that we do
• Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency and integrity, treating each other with respect in a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace
• Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions, seeking to build trust and earn a reputation for excellence and reliability
• Teamwork: We work with our team members, our supplier partners, and our customers to pursue mutual benefits
• Sustainability: We seek long‑term success for our business, our communities, and the environment through responsible sourcing, lean manufacturing, and sustainable operations

How To Apply

If you see yourself growing with Alexander Dennis and contributing to our vision, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete our online application form and attach your CV. We care deeply about being inclusive and we encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Due to the volume of vacancies and applications, we would prefer that you submit your application online. If however, you require an alternative method of applying, please give us a call on [phone] or send an email to [e-mail].

Note: If you are an internal applicant, you have a responsibility to inform your current line/department manager and local human resources representative before applying for the role.