Strategic Buyer

Collins Aerospace; Havant; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Fantastic pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee discounts and benefits

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Havant is seeking an experienced Strategic Buyer to own supplier strategy and programme delivery, ensuring a resilient supply base for aerospace projects. You will collaborate with Programme Management, Buyers and suppliers to balance cost, quality, delivery and long-term performance.

The role focuses on delivering a programme-ready supply chain, early awareness of new programmes, and cost reduction initiatives while maintaining budgetary discipline in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Experience in a Supply Chain, Procurement or Purchasing environment.
• Experience delivering a high‑quality service within a fast‑paced procurement environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and organise time effectively.
• Confidence working under pressure and delivering against deadlines.
• Proactive, flexible and solutions-focused approach.
• Experience using MS Office and ERP systems (e.g., SAP).
• Exposure to aviation or aerospace requirements would be advantageous but not essential.
• A CIPS qualification, or progress towards one, would be beneficial but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a programme-ready supply chain to support repeat purchasing and ongoing programme requirements.
• Partner with Programme Management to build early awareness of new programmes and future supply chain requirements.
• Lead supplier selection and approval in line with purchasing and commodity strategies.
• Ensure programme purchasing activity stays within budgets and cost targets.
• Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities and support supplier development initiatives.
• Work with Buyers to improve supplier on-time, on-quality delivery and cost performance.
• Interpret and implement supply chain strategies and category plans.
• Build relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify risks and resolve issues.
• Contribute to departmental improvement projects within Purchasing.

Skills

Supply Chain

Procurement

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Under pressure

MS Office/ERP (SAP)

Aviation/Aerospace knowledge

CIPS qualification

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems (SAP)

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Country: United Kingdom

Location: Havant, Hampshire

Position Role Type: Onsite

Strategic Buyer

Havant | Collins Aerospace, an RTX business

Shape the supply chain behind the future of aerospace

At RTX, the world’s largest aerospace and defence company, 185,000 talented people are united by purpose: solving some of the world’s most complex challenges. Through our market-leading businesses, world-class operations and continued investment in research and development, we push the boundaries of known science to help connect and protect our world.

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions that are redefining aerospace and defence.

We’re now looking for an experienced Strategic Buyer to join our team in Havant.

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of supplier strategy and programme delivery, helping ensure our supply chain is ready to support both new and repeat programmes. You’ll work closely with Programme Management, Buyers and suppliers to balance cost, quality, delivery and long-term supply chain performance.

What You’ll Do

As a Strategic Buyer, you’ll play a key role in ensuring our programmes are delivered on time and on budget, while developing a capable, competitive and resilient supply base.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering a programme-ready supply chain to support repeat purchasing and ongoing programme requirements.
• Partnering with Programme Management to build early awareness of new programmes and future supply chain requirements.
• Leading supplier selection and approval in line with purchasing and commodity strategies.
• Ensuring programme purchasing activity remains within agreed budgets and cost targets.
• Identifying and delivering cost reduction opportunities and supporting supplier development initiatives.
• Working closely with Buyers to improve supplier on-time delivery (OTD), on-quality delivery (OQD) and cost performance.
• Interpreting and implementing supply chain strategies and category plans.
• Building effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify risks and resolve issues.
• Contributing to departmental improvement projects that enhance the effectiveness of our Purchasing function.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone who understands that great procurement is about more than placing orders. You’ll be commercially aware, comfortable working with multiple stakeholders and able to turn supply chain strategy into action.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Previous experience within a Supply Chain, Procurement or Purchasing environment.
• Experience delivering a high-quality service within a fast-paced procurement environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and organise your time effectively.
• Confidence working under pressure and delivering against deadlines.
• A proactive, flexible and solutions-focused approach.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and MRP/ERP systems, such as SAP or similar.
• The ability to interpret and implement supply chain strategies and category plans.
• Exposure to aviation or aerospace requirements and standards would be advantageous, but is not essential.
• A CIPS qualification, or progress towards one, would also be beneficial but is not essential.

Why Join Collins Aerospace?

You won’t simply be buying parts and services. You’ll be helping build the supply chain that enables complex aerospace programmes to succeed.

At Collins Aerospace, you’ll join a collaborative and innovative environment where your ideas and contribution matter. You’ll have opportunities to work across functions, develop your procurement and supply chain expertise and build your career within one of the world’s leading aerospace and defence organisations.

What We Offer

Alongside the opportunity to build your career with Collins Aerospace and RTX, you’ll receive a competitive benefits package including:

• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Fantastic pension scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• A range of additional employee discounts and benefits

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Please refer to the RTX Job Applicant Privacy Notice for further information.

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.