Operational Buyer

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 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Based here in our thriving facilities in East Cowes, the Operational Buyer (indirect) will join a small, close-knit team who's overall responsibility is the purchase and supply of all products and services not related directly to one of our manufacturing programmes (i.e. potentially anything and everything required to keep our facilities up and running on a day-to-day basis). They will be responsible for order processing of in-contract scheduling, and management of supplier delivery performance in line with MPS and business requirements, and will deliver against supplier and business performance objectives focused on procured parts delivery.

This role requires strong interpersonal and resource management skills to deliver against project objectives, including change, sourcing decisions, cost reduction opportunities, transfers of products / services / suppliers, contract negotiation and placement

Job Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities will include :

• Supplier Sourcing / involvement with development Strategy, in line with the group commodity strategy;
• Supplier relationship and interface of Key suppliers;
• Programme Supplier Selection RFQ’s;
• Supplier Negotiation, including price, general terms and conditions;
• PO demands placed upon suppliers to ensure that Key Objectives of cost, quality and delivery are secured;
• Change Control, Export Control and ITAR;
• Delivery / maintenance of Supplier data;
• Devising / investigating Cost Reduction opportunities / activities;
• Supporting Capital and Operational expenditure projects for the site;
• Creation of Indirect NDA;
• Contract drafting and negotiations for site specific projects as applicable;
• Managing Supplier risk (awareness of Dunn & Bradstreet for financials and others as applicable);
• Processing ePOR requests;
• Resolution of invoice queries;
• Escalation of any contractual issues with Suppliers

Job Qualifications

Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate :

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. ​