Senior Buyer

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ holiday

Enhanced pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior Buyer to lead end-to-end procurement for software, vehicle connectivity and related services. You will craft global strategies, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance across a dynamic automotive environment.

Based in Woking or Bicester, you will partner with procurement, engineering and product teams to deliver value, mitigate risks, and implement a best-in-class software procurement model that supports the company’s ambitious growth.

Qualifications

• Significant procurement experience, preferably in product development automotive/aerospace/commercial electronics.
• Experience drafting and negotiating software supply agreements.
• Proven track record in end-to-end supplier management and negotiations.
• Ability to manage large software suppliers like Microsoft/Google and smaller SW firms.
• Strong understanding of software costs, licensing, and risk mitigation.
• Ability to develop multi-system procurement strategies to reduce cost and increase value.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end software and related services procurement, including sourcing, negotiations, and performance oversight.
• Lead global procurement strategies for complex requirements aligned with business growth plans.
• Drive contract management and supplier performance across the software portfolio.
• Own lifecycle cost ownership, risk management and opportunities for revenue through commercial models.
• Build and maintain supplier relationships, and develop new partners offering innovative terms.
• Support the team and contribute to operating model improvements and cross-functional alignment.
• Present high-level business cases to senior leadership for key decisions.

Skills

Procurement expertise

Software procurement

Contract negotiation

Supplier management

Strategic sourcing

Cost optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Buyer to be based in Woking or Bicester.

The best software technology solutions in the best cars.

Reporting to the Procurement Manager - Software & Customer Experience, you will be responsible for delivering the strategic direction and the commercial management of software, vehicle connectivity and associated service solutions within the team. This will be achieved by becoming the subject matter expert for the technologies that you will manage.

What You'll Do

• Responsible for end-to-end commodity management, from concept, development & sourcing, through to operational supply performance management, industry benchmarking and runout/exit strategies
• Developing & executing global procurement strategies on complex requirements against business objectives and global growth plans
• Delivering and leading contract management via effective negotiation and actively undertaking supplier performance management
• Be responsible for commodity level total lifecycle cost ownership, risk management, developing cost and potential revenue opportunities and reporting new risks while creating mitigation ideas
• Maintaining & Improving supplier relationships with preferred suppliers while developing new relationships with suppliers that offer innovative solutions and advantageous commercial terms. Collaborating with stakeholders and contributing to optimal supplier outcomes.
• Supporting the Strategic Sourcing Manager in developing other team members and in developing the Operating Model. Contribute to the development of the software procurement processes and implement the target operating model in alignment with other functions to achieve a dynamic & best-in-class function
• Delivering high level presentations / business cases to the senior leadership team for critical decisions making

What You'll Bring

• Significant procurement experience preferably direct in a product development environment, ideally within automotive, aerospace or consumer electronics, or solid experience within an indirect IT procurement role
• Skilled in contract drafting and negotiation across different types of software supply agreements.
• Experienced negotiator with a proven track record of end-to-end supply base management (strategy, sourcing, delivery, cost, value, risk and management)
• Confident and experienced in managing large software enterprises, for example Microsoft, Google etc but flexible enough to manage the smaller SW enterprise and understand risks and opportunities across the range of software companies.
• Solid knowledge of software technologies and supply base with a deep industry network.
• Truly collaborative with strong influencing skills and experience of creating and maintaining networks across all levels of the business
• Understand and analyse key cost drivers in software development, licensing and maintenance and support with a proven record of optimising costs which deliver value to the business
• Has an ability to analyse business requirements and propose different commercial models that may provide revenue to the business (eg distribution agreements).
• Knowledge of risks and associated mitigations with software (eg Open Source, software quality, cyber threats and AI)
• Has an innovative and curious mindset and is eager to understand different solutions and future trends.
• Is unafraid to challenge the status quo and able to identify inefficiencies in processes and ways of working.
• Demonstratable y experience in developing and implementing multi-system strategies to optimise cost, rationalise supply base, minimise risk and deliver increased value in technical attributes/performance
• Thrives in an unclear environment and unafraid to respectfully share their opinion
• Open minded and an absolute desire to learn and develop both personally and the business with new solutions and processes.

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.