Strategic Buyer

Vertical Aerospace; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering company in electric aviation as a Strategic Buyer. You will work closely with engineering and finance teams, manage supplier relationships, and contribute to procurement processes. The role involves global travel and requires strong negotiation and analytical skills. Enjoy a supportive environment with competitive benefits while shaping the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus bank holidays

Option to buy or sell 5 extra days

Additional holiday for marriage or civil partnership

4% of salary to spend on benefits

Digital health and wellbeing services

Company Share Scheme

Company Pension Scheme (5% employer contribution)

Daily breakfast

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement or supply chain in regulated industries.
• Knowledge of battery/energy storage systems is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market assessments and identify potential new suppliers.
• Manage supplier relationships and monitor contract KPIs.
• Identify risks within the supply chain and determine mitigation strategies.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical

Project Management

Strategic Thinking

Education

BA/BSc in Business-related field

CIPS qualification

Job description

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Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The VX4, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), ‘zero emissions’ aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

We won’t realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed; instead, we want to ‘redefine’ aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals of having the VX4 in service by 2030.

What To Expect

This role will report directly to the Head of Procurement, working closely with our internal teams across engineering, finance, and program, as well as key global external suppliers. You will need excellent communication, negotiation skills, attention to detail, and the ability to switch between operational tasks and strategic problem-solving. You will analyze data to identify potential supply chain risks and lead in finding solutions. Global travel to the US, Asia, and Europe is also part of the role, with flexibility over travel frequency.

What You'll Do

1. Conduct market assessments and identify potential new suppliers.
2. Build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with supply chain partners.
3. Manage supplier relationships and monitor contract KPIs for on-time, cost, and quality delivery.
4. Manage negotiations and contracts from RFI/RFP to award.
5. Identify risks within the supply chain using data and insights, and determine mitigation strategies.
6. Contribute to developing procurement processes and tools.
7. Manage RFQs, supplier onboarding, POs, delivery assurance, and receipting within our ERP system.
8. Develop and maintain supplier readiness for ramp-up.

What You'll Bring

• Procurement or supply chain experience in a safety-critical/highly regulated industry (e.g., Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare).
• Knowledge of battery/energy storage systems is advantageous but not essential.
• BA/BSc degree or equivalent in a business-related field or CIPS qualification.
• Strong contract management and negotiation skills.
• Global outlook and experience working with diverse cultures and challenges.
• Good planning and project management skills.
• Technical, analytical, judgment, and operational skills.
• Team player with a can-do attitude and ability to build stakeholder networks.
• Strategic thinker with operational focus.
• High resilience to change and ambiguity.
• Self-starter with a continuous improvement mindset.

What can you expect from us?

We are on a mission. Working at Vertical Aerospace offers a challenging, flexible, and supportive environment. We promote ingenuity and courage, emphasizing safety and openness. Join us to shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Our Benefits

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Option to buy or sell 5 extra days annually
• Additional holiday for marriage or civil partnership
• 4% of salary to spend on benefits
• Digital health and wellbeing services
• Company Share Scheme
• Company Pension Scheme (5% employer contribution)
• Daily breakfast

Join us to be part of the future of aviation and make a meaningful impact.