Senior Technical Buyer

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Bicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Discretionary annual bonus

Life assurance

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

McLaren Automotive Ltd is seeking a senior procurement professional to lead supplier strategies within the prototype purchasing team. The role supports fast-paced vehicle development by managing complex procurement requirements, mitigating supply risks and driving supplier performance to meet programme milestones.

You will negotiate production contracts, collaborate with Engineering and Quality, and lead supplier risk assessments to ensure timing, cost and quality targets are achieved.

Qualifications

• Procurement experience in automotive, motorsport, aerospace, or advanced engineering environments.
• Some experience managing high-value and complex supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and finalise production supplier contracts for assigned commodities.
• Mitigate cost increases and drive cost-down activities within scope.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Supplier Quality to develop sourcing strategies.
• Conduct supplier assessments and coordinate sourcing recommendations.
• Ensure suppliers meet program targets for timing, cost, quality, and technical attributes.
• Mentor buyers within the team sharing best practice and encouraging development.

Skills

Procurement experience

Supplier relationship mgmt

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in Business/Supply Chain/Engineering

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

What to Expect

Reporting to the Central Testing Operation Manager, this is an exciting and unique opportunity to join McLaren Automotive's prototype Purchasing team. This position plays a critical role in supporting fast-paced vehicle development activities by managing complex procurement requirements, mitigating supply risks, and driving supplier performance to ensure programme milestones are achieved.

What You'll Do

• Negotiate and finalise 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 activities with suppliers and internal customers.
• Support risk assessment, total acquisition cost analysis, and cross-functional alignment on technical and quality criteria.
• Effective resolution of all critical supply issues and status reporting to the project team.
• Minimisation and mitigation of costs, project risks, negative relationships with suppliers and threats to the organisation's ability to design, develop and manufacture products on time, to cost and at the required quality standards.
• Lead pre-launch supplier management activities to ensure readiness for series production.
• Driving all areas of the business to submit timely, comprehensive parts requirements in line with supplier lead-times.
• Execution of management reporting.
• Represent your function group at programme gateways and cost workshops.
• Mentor buyers within the team sharing best practice and encouraging development in others.
• Supporting and foster a cross-functional approach to achieve your objectives.
• Engage with Engineering so that you are seen as a key stakeholder and able to exert influence.

What You'll Bring

• Procurement experience within automotive, motorsport, aerospace, or advanced engineering environments.
• Some experience managing high-value and complex supplier relationships.

Desirable

• MCIPS qualification or working towards qualification.
• Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related discipline.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP.

What We'll Do for You

• 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.