New Program Buyer – 12 month FTC

Management and coordination for the Purchasing function on new programmes at Pitstone, managing multiple vendors (approx. 20 per typical project), managing between 2-4 projects simultaneously, with different levels of complexity
Project budget responsibility is typically £1M to £3M per program (sometimes more), excluding non-recurring costs (NRCs) and CAPEX. 95% bought components.

• Manage and facilitate all sourcing activity, aligning the core commodity strategies with supplier selection and the future product roadmap for new products and technology being developed
• Ensure deployment of Design for Manufacture (DFM) processes with early supplier engagement, to manage and report design evolution from concept/baseline throughout the New Product Introduction (NPI) phases of prototype and qualification
• Follow a robust DTC methodology, challenging design requirements, potential over engineering and scope creep
• Create, conduct and close RFQ / RFP Packages with Selected Supplier Choice panels
• Manage deliveries of Purchase orders, communicate weekly clear to build status to program team and work with suppliers to ensure any deviations and technical issues are captured, agreed with stake holders such as engineering and programs teams
• Ensure the technical issues are escalated and mitigated with stakeholder support.
• Escalate, where appropriate, any significant issues that require management intervention or awareness;
• Work with suppliers to resolve issues impacting performance, such as, Quality discrepancies, Book in queries, Permits/Concessions or Invoice query resolution and corrective actions where needed
• Support daily IPT (Integrated Program Team) meeting for assigned projects
• Ensure project costs are captured and reported monthly via BoM costing model
• Manage returns to vendors via the NCT process
• Work closely with engineering to ensure design evolutions are in alignment with manufacturing leadtimes
• Work with Purchasing/SPRM SRPM/SQA/Vendors to ensure/create robust and efficient Supply chains
• Explore & exploit opportunities for cost improvement on the project; while ensuring commodity strategy is
• Work with Supplier Account Manager / Commodity Manager to negotiate prices, terms, conditions and agreements
• Assist where required with BOM and MRP maintenance, to include part # creation and planning parameter loading
• Provide senior management with a weekly update on program status and risks
• Risk Analysis – Identification and resolution of supply issues in order to meet business commitments
• Strong supplier relationship management, developing a competent network of capable suppliers and partners to support a dynamic, agile and lean environment
• To take a very proactive approach to aggressive cost reduction and design influence

Complementary Description

• Challenge, negotiate, secure and report fulfilment of program targets in terms of Quality, Cost, Delivery (QCD)
• Ensure that the suppliers are able to meet the Safran Quality requirements and where needed, facilitate negotiations between Engineering and Supplier
• To provide rolling cost data for project showing current and future state
• To secure parts in line with program schedule
• Initiate long term agreement negotiations with programme and strategic suppliers, ensuring that development and supply agreements are structured in line with customer terms and programme objectives, working with Commodity Management Team
• To report and present at programme reviews

Other key interactions include working within cross functional project teams, reporting to internal stakeholders (SLT & CODIV level), liaising with other Safran sites on multi-site programs (particularly Twinsburg, Reau, Niort and other Safran Business Units – SLS, SVS, SHE, SES)
No direct reports

Candidate will be expected to make decisions relating to supply of components without supervision from manager. Will also be expected to make decisions relating to terms and conditions, and cost reduction activities without supervision

Job Requirements

• Purchasing/sourcing experience within a manufacturing environment. Aerospace sector not necessary but desirable. An awareness of low volume sourcing would be very preferable
• Astute commercial awareness
• Proven experience in liaising with customers or suppliers; with a background of negotiation
• Demonstrates healthy and productive influencing ability which can be applied within an engineering /design /manufacturing environment
• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to work with individuals across a range of functions and varying seniority
• Demonstrates versatility dealing with a range of cultures, across different time zones
• High motivation to learn, develop and perform in a fast-paced rapid prototype environment
• Attention to detail, with a proven ability to manage multiple, conflicting priorities simultaneously
• Experience with metric creations and data presentations, with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Bias for action: Decisive and takes the initiative
• Experience with improving processes
• Good PC skills, confident with use of MRP systems and Microsoft office (Excel & PowerPoint)
• Evidence of written English at interview stage. This will be through providing certification of a formal English or technical qualification studied in the UK or overseas in English. If this cannot be provided you will be required to complete and pass an online SHL English comprehension test as part of the interview process.

Specificity of the job

As required