Strategic Buyer

Role Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Engineering Strategic Buyer to lead the sourcing and procurement of engineering materials, components, and services. This role will develop strategic supplier relationships, negotiate commercial agreements, and ensure the business secures the right quality, cost and delivery performance to support engineering and operational objectives.
Working closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Supply Chain teams, the successful candidate will translate technical requirements into effective sourcing strategies and deliver sustainable value across the supply base.

Key Points Summary

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing strategies for engineering materials, components, and services.
• Provide strategic supply chain leadership by working with suppliers to assess their ability to support the business medium and long-term growth plans.
• Identify risks, challenges and mitigation plans within the supply base, ensuring suppliers have appropriate capacity, capability and resources to meet future demand.
• Coordinate cross-functional support within the business where supplier development activities or business intervention is required to remove barriers to performance.
• Act as the bridge between strategic supply chain objectives and operational purchasing activity, working closely with Buyers to ensure alignment between day-to-day execution and long-term business goals.
• Support dual sourcing and supply chain resilience initiatives, including evaluating alternative suppliers, assessing new supply routes and reducing dependency on single-source risks.
• Lead and support change management activities associated with supplier transitions, sourcing changes and supply chain improvement projects.
• Enhance supplier performance management, ensuring robust KPI tracking, scorecards, action management and governance processes are in place.
• Provide data analysis and reporting support to the Purchasing team, maintaining accurate, up-to-date supplier performance information to support decision making and business reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement across the supply chain, using data, supplier engagement and structured governance to improve delivery, quality, responsiveness and cost performance.

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, or buying within an engineering, manufacturing, or technical environment.
• Strong understanding of engineering components, materials, manufacturing processes, and technical specifications.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing commercial agreements.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical documentation.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Quality, and Operations.
• Knowledge of supplier qualification, audits, and performance improvement.
• Familiarity with ERP and procurement systems.