Strategic Category Buyer

KLA; Newport; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus scheme

Job summary

KLA, a global leader in electronics inspection, is seeking a Strategic Buyer who will shape sourcing strategies across electrical components and assemblies. You will partner with Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to drive value, risk management and supplier development.

The role requires strong negotiation, data‑driven decision making and the ability to influence at senior levels. Occasional UK and international travel is expected as part of shaping supplier relationships and

Qualifications

• Degree in SCM, Procurement, Business, Engineering or related field.
• Experience in procurement/strategic sourcing or commodity management.
• CIPS/MCIPS desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for electrical components and assemblies.
• Own strategic supplier relationships, driving cost, quality, delivery and service improvements.
• Lead RFQ and RFP activities, commercial negotiations and contract discussions.
• Analyse supplier cost structures, inflation trends, labour rates, utility costs and market data.
• Present sourcing strategies, supplier performance reviews and business recommendations to leadership.
• Drive cost reduction, value engineering and continuous improvement across the supply base.
• Develop and maintain commodity strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Identify, evaluate and qualify new suppliers to support innovation and growth.
• Partner with Engineering for new product introductions and changes.
• Supervise supplier performance through metrics and business reviews.
• Conduct supply chain risk analysis and mitigation strategies.
• Support supplier audits, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain supplier, pricing and contract data in ERP/MRP systems.
• Stay informed of market trends and material fluctuations.
• Travel within the UK to support supplier engagement; occasional international travel.

Skills

Negotiation

Commercial leadership

Stakeholder influence

Data analysis

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

SAP experience

ERP systems

MS Office

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management or related

CIPS/MCIPS desirable

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Group/Division

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

KLA is seeking an expert Strategic Buyer to lead sourcing and supplier management activities across a portfolio of electrical components and assemblies!

This is a highly transparent and influential role responsible for developing and driving sourcing strategies that support business growth, supply chain resilience and commercial success.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain teams, you will drive supplier performance, lead sophisticated negotiations, handle commercial risk and influence key procurement decisions. This is not a transactional buying role; what we are looking for is a strategic procurement professional, who can analyse market trends, develop sourcing strategies and expertly present recommendations to senior leadership!

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for electrical components and assemblies, including PCB assemblies, power supplies, cables, motors, sensors, box builds and associated technologies.
• Own strategic supplier relationships, driving improvements in cost, quality, delivery, capacity and service performance.
• Lead RFQ and RFP activities, commercial negotiations and contract discussions to achieve best-value outcomes.
• Analyse supplier cost structures, inflation trends, labour rates, utility costs and market data to support commercial decision making.
• Present sourcing strategies, supplier performance reviews and business recommendations to leadership teams.
• Drive cost reduction, value engineering and continuous improvement initiatives across the supply base.
• Develop and maintain commodity strategies aligned to business objectives, growth plans and product roadmaps.
• Identify, evaluate and qualify new suppliers to support innovation, supply continuity and business growth.
• Partner with Engineering teams to support new product introductions, develop changes and supplier development activities.
• Supervise supplier performance through critical metric management, business reviews and corrective action plans.
• Conduct supply chain risk analysis and implement mitigation strategies relating to capacity constraints, sole-source dependencies, market volatility and component obsolescence.
• Support supplier audits, quality improvement initiatives and regulatory compliance activities.
• Maintain accurate supplier, pricing and contract information within ERP and MRP systems.
• Stay informed of market trends, raw material fluctuations and industry developments impacting assigned commodities.
• Travel within the UK to support supplier engagement activities, with occasional international travel as the need arises.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. For this role we are looking for someone who:

• Has significant experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or commodity management within an electrical, electronics, engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrates outstanding negotiation and commercial leadership skills.
• Is comfortable influencing partners at all levels, including senior leadership teams.
• Can confidently present sourcing strategies, recommendations and cases.
• Uses data and market intelligence to drive decision making and deliver measurable results.
• Has strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Builds effective partnerships
• Can manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Takes ownership of deliverables and drives initiatives through to completion.
• Has a proactive, collaborative and customer-focused demeanour.
• Thrives in a strategic role where long-term planning, supplier development and continuous improvement are key success factors.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Experience using SAP or a comparable ERP platform.

What we will offer you?

KLA offers the opportunity to work in a highly strategic procurement role with significant exposure across the business. You will play a key role in crafting supplier strategies, influencing commercial decisions, and supporting the growth of a global technology leader. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including an annual bonus scheme linked to the achievement of personal objectives.

This position provides excellent career development opportunities, regular interaction with senior leadership, and the chance to create a measurable impact on business performance through strategic sourcing and supplier management excellence.

Occasional domestic and international travel, including to the United States, may be required as part of this role

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business, Engineering, Logistics or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• CIPS or MCIPS qualification desirable but not crucial.

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us.

Use of AI Statement

At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset.

We offer a competitive, family friendly total rewards package. We design our programs to reflect our commitment to an inclusive environment, while ensuring we provide benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees.

KLA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.