Strategic Sourcing Lead

SAFRAN UK; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran UK is seeking a Buyer to manage sourcing and purchasing across assigned commodities, focusing on cost, quality, delivery, service, risk and sustainability. You will handle end-to-end procurement, from strategy development to tendering, contracting and supplier performance management.

You will lead negotiations, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure early involvement in sourcing and strong supplier relationships across the UK.

Qualifications

• Experience in Purchasing or procurement environment.
• Knowledge of tendering and contract management.
• Strong commercial and numerical skills analyzing quotations and supplier proposals.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management.
• Understanding of commercial contracts and supplier management.
• Highly organised with ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Proactive in data accuracy and system usage.

Responsibilities

• Lead UK-level RFQ, RFP and tendering activities with focus on Total Cost of Ownership.
• Manage end-to-end purchasing lifecycle and P2P processes.
• Develop and implement commodity sourcing strategies.
• Monitor supplier performance against KPIs and drive corrective actions.
• Identify cost savings, risk mitigation and value-improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Legal and internal stakeholders on pricing, SLAs and protections.
• Support sustainability. digital transformation and AI in Purchasing.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Procurement processes

Commercial analysis

Negotiation & stakeholder mgmt

Contract management

Organisation & prioritisation

ERP & digital literacy

English communication

Education

CIPS qualification

Supply Chain qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Safran UK is seeking a Buyer to manage sourcing and purchasing across assigned commodities, focusing on cost, quality, delivery, service, risk and sustainability. You will handle end-to-end procurement, from strategy development to tendering, contracting and supplier performance management.

You will lead negotiations, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure early involvement in sourcing and strong supplier relationships across the UK.