Senior Buyer - BIW

McLaren; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ holiday

Enhanced pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after 2 years

Employee discounts

Parental leave

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior Commodity Buyer who sets strategic supplier sourcing directions for key commodities, aiming for best technology at the lowest total cost while minimising risk.

You will lead supplier identification, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration, driving cost reduction and robust supplier performance across multi-million pound direct-spend portfolios.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field preferred
• MCIPS qualification desirable
• Proven procurement experience in automotive/manufacturing
• Strong commercial background and negotiation skills
• Experience managing multi-national suppliers and delivering complex contracts
• Excellent communication, influencing, and organizational skills
• Results-driven, autonomous and delivery-focused
• Ability to lead and energize teams, influence at all levels
• Passion for purchasing and innovation
• Strong attention to accuracy and detail
• Self-motivated with a desire to progress within McLaren

Responsibilities

• Develop and update Category Strategies aligned with Technology Roadmaps and product plans
• Lead supplier identification, selection, and relationship management with key suppliers
• Lead supplier nominations with cross-functional support
• Negotiate, execute, and monitor complex contracts to protect McLaren’s commercial position
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production, Finance, and Legal to ensure aligned strategies and supplier performance
• Demonstrate expertise in supplier processes, cost drivers, and industry trends
• Prepare and deliver annual cost reduction plans and minimize supplier claims on multi-million pound direct spend
• Deputise for the Manager as required and support team development

Skills

Procurement experience

Commercial background

Negotiation skills

Multi-national suppliers

Communication

Team leadership

Influence/build relationships

Autonomous worker

Purchasing passion

Attention to detail

Ambitious/self-motivated

Education

Degree in Business or Engineering

MCIPS qualification desirable

Job description

Reporting to the Procurement Manager the Senior Commodity Buyer sets the strategic direction for supplier sourcing within their commodity area - Body in White and Carbo), ensuring McLaren accesses the best technology at the lowest achievable total cost while minimizing risk. The role is a model for procurement professionalism and best practice

What You'll Do

• Develop and update Category Strategies on critical commodities aligned with Technology Roadmaps and future product plans.
• Lead supplier identification, selection, and relationship management with key suppliers, ensuring McLaren is a customer of choice.
• Lead on supplier nominations with collaborative cross functional support.
• Negotiate, execute, and monitor complex contractual agreements with strategic suppliers and ensure McLaren’s commercial position is protected.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Production, Finance, and Legal to deliver aligned strategies and robust supplier performance.
• Demonstrate expertise in supplier processes, cost drivers, and industry trends.
• Prepare and deliver annual plans for cost reduction and supplier claims minimization on multi-million pound direct-spend portfolios.
• Deputize for the Manager as required and support team development.

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field preferred; MCIPS qualification desirable.
• Proven experience in procurement within automotive or manufacturing.
• Strong commercial background and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing multi-national suppliers and delivering complex contracts.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and organizational skills.
• Results-driven, delivery-focused, and able to work autonomously.
• Ability to lead and energize teams, promote best practice, and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Passion for purchasing and innovation.
• Strong attention to accuracy and detail.
• Self-motivated and ambitious, with a desire to progress within McLaren.

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.