At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us as a Tactical Buyer, managing procurement processes and ensuring timely supplier deliveries.
- Company: Thales UK is a leader in defence technology, impacting millions with innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, competitive salary, 27 days leave, and a range of health benefits.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission that enhances global security while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and proficiency in MS Office and MRP systems required.
- Other info: We promote diversity and inclusion, offering tailored support for all applicants.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Cheadle, United KingdomThales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Location: Cheadle/Templecombe
Our Opportunity
The Tactical Buyer MSET UWS will support the Marine Sensor Enhancement Team (MSET) contract, which is a vast new contract we have awarded – worth £1.85 billion.
It will maximise days at seas for the Royal Navy Fleet by ensuring sustained, long-term availability and resilience of critical assets, spares and repairsover the next 15 years.
By significantly increasing equipment availability, M-Set will increase the longevity of sensor and sonar capability, which is critical for the Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD) and wider ship and submarine capabilities. The result is GLOBAL Security will be boosted, the Royal Navy is presently fully engaged around the world. The Royal Navy operates ships and submarines across every ocean and continent. On Active duty, 365 days a year.
Thales UK will aim to provide full availability of the equipment that is the eyes and ears of the Royal Navy. Utilising data technology, including AI and virtual reality to provide a more proactive, and predictive maintenance systems, the project will secure a projected 450 employees across 5 Thales sites in the UK.
Responsibilities
Within a regional procurement centre, the Tactical Buyer is involved in the transactional procurement process of PR/PO (Procurement Requisition/Procurement Order). Also responsible for transforming a PR into a PO using the different elements coming from category buyers, in a time frame (SLA) and to follow up the PO.
The Tactical Buyer may periodically be required to expedite and follow-up on Procurement orders to ensure specific timing and quality requirements are met, including post award responsibility for supplier deliveries. In addition, the Tactical Buyer will support the category team in quote preparation, data analytics, quotes summaries, discrepant supplier inputs, and other tasks related to the sourcing process.
Skills and Experience
Benefits at Thales
We strive to create an environment where you can prioritise your wellbeing and have designed our benefits to give you the flexibility and power to do so. Our core benefits include a pension plan, private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection as well as an employee assistance programme.
In addition, our flexible benefits platform gives you the power to customise your benefits to suit your needs. You can choose to add a number of optional benefits including: healthcare cash plan, health assessments, family cover private medical insurance, buying/selling annual leave, gym membership discounts + much, much more. You can also enjoy exclusive access to our discount site!
Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus, 27 days annual leave + 1 company day + UK public holidays as well as the opportunity to volunteer up to 3 days to support local charities/communities in which we work.
Flexibility
Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
If you are interested in this role, we would encourage you to have informal chat with the Talent Acquisition Partner.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
#LI-SW1
In line with Thales\’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment,if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Teamfor graduate and apprentice roles.
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Created on 30/06/2025 by TN United Kingdom
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Tactical Buyer employer: Thales
Contact Detail:
Thales Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Tactical Buyer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific procurement processes used in the defence sector. Understanding the nuances of military contracts and the importance of compliance can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the defence and procurement fields. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with people who can provide insights and potentially refer you to opportunities at Thales.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your experience with MRP/ERP systems like Oracle or SAP during conversations. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools can demonstrate your readiness for the Tactical Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you would handle supplier negotiations and problem-solving scenarios. Having concrete examples ready can showcase your negotiation skills and ability to build effective relationships with suppliers.
We think you need these skills to ace Tactical Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in procurement or supply chain roles. Emphasise skills such as negotiation, data analysis, and familiarity with MRP/ERP systems like Oracle or SAP.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the Tactical Buyer position at Thales. Mention specific aspects of the job description that resonate with you and how your background aligns with their needs.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your computer literacy, particularly with MS Office and MRP systems. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed procurement processes or supplier relationships in previous roles.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial for a Tactical Buyer role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thales
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what a Tactical Buyer does, especially in the context of Thales. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as procurement processes and supplier management.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Since negotiation is a key part of the Tactical Buyer role, prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully negotiated terms or resolved disputes. This will demonstrate your capability to handle similar situations at Thales.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Relevant Systems
Thales mentions the use of MRP/ERP systems like Oracle or SAP. If you have experience with these or similar systems, be ready to discuss how you've used them in previous roles to enhance procurement efficiency.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
The role involves working closely with category teams and suppliers. Prepare to discuss how you’ve built effective relationships in the past and how you can contribute to a collaborative environment at Thales.