Senior Buyer (Site)

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Accountable for local commercial management and assigned non-strategic sourcing for the geographical area under his / her responsibility.

Senior Buyer geographical area normally a larger site or oversight of a cluster of smaller sites.

Responsible for in-contract modifications, transfers or new products; ensuring products are sourced at competitive prices in line with aerospace commodity strategy.

Management of supplier delivery for parts sourced as modifications, transfers or new products until FAI is achieved.

Job Responsibilities

• Senior Buyer geographical area normally a larger site or oversight of a cluster of smaller sites
• Responsible for reporting procurement activity and site reviews for the geographical area under his / her responsibility
• Responsible for the geographical area interface between programme and commodity management for new sourcing and change programmes in line with the group commodity strategy
• Support commodity managers for the geographic region supplier selection RFQ / RFP with the use of E-Sourcing tools
• Support parts / supplier transfers and industrialisation (Major transfers)
• Responsible for parts / supplier transfers and industrialisation (Minor transfers) through to FAI
• Drive implementation of global / regional agreements within geographic area
• Responsible for the transfer of parts from PO to Schedule including the negotiation of moving from Schedule to consignment / DLF etc
• Responsible for all PO demands placed upon suppliers to ensure that Key Objectives of cost, quality and delivery are secured
• Responsible for site procurement change control, export control and ITAR
• Responsible for the delivery / maintenance / Integrity of site BOM
• Responsible for ensuring item / contract data is updated and maintained
• Responsible for the flow down of enabled customer materials, pricing and skyline forecasts to Suppliers
• Responsible for developing and supporting site cost reduction opportunities and supplier development plans in-line with business requirements.
• Responsible for supplier risk including use of rate readiness templates and awareness of Dunn & Bradstreet for financials
• Responsible for Managing Raw Material Inventory levels for Purchase Order parts in line with programme targets and start dates.
• Responsible for the resolution of Invoice queries related to pricing
• Be an escalation point for any cost / contractual issues with Suppliers working with commodity management where further escalation is required.
  
  

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• BSc degree, or equivalent in a Business, Engineering, Science or in lieu of a degree 5 years experience
• Minimum of 5 years relevant business experience
• Previous experience in Procurement / Commercial roles
• Previous experience with MRP
• Previous experience with domestic or International supply base
• A demonstrated ability to build relations with a supplier network and having insight in suppliers processes
• A track record of Leadership to work with cross functional teams
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• GKN Aerospace experience
• MCIPS or related qualifications
• Negotiation and contract negotiation experience
  
  

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.