Senior Buyer - BIW

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical option

Employee discounts

Parental leave

Wellbeing programmes

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior Commodity Buyer to set the strategic direction for supplier sourcing within their commodity area, ensuring access to the best technology at the lowest achievable total cost while minimising risk. The role models procurement professionalism and best practice.

You will lead supplier identification, nominations and negotiations, collaborating across Engineering, Quality, Production, Finance and Legal to deliver robust supplier performance and multi-million

Qualifications

• Degree preferred; MCIPS 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, autonomous.
• Ability to lead and energize teams, promote best practice, and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update Category Strategies on critical commodities aligned with Roadmaps and product plans.
• Lead supplier identification, selection, and relationship management with key suppliers.
• Lead on supplier nominations with cross functional support.
• Negotiate, execute, and monitor complex contractual agreements with strategic suppliers.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Production, Finance, and Legal to deliver aligned strategies.
• Demonstrate expertise in supplier processes, cost drivers, and industry trends.
• Prepare and deliver annual plans for cost reduction and supplier claims minimization.
• Deputize for the Manager as required and support team development.

Skills

Procurement experience

Automotive/manufacturing procurement

Negotiation skills

Contract management

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Autonomous working

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Business/Engineering/related field

MCIPS qualification

Job description

What to Expect

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

The Senior Commodity Buyer is accountable for the following key activities:

• 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

Knowledge, skills & experience:

• 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.

Personal Attributes / Competencies

• 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:

• Structured career development framework
• 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.