Category Buyer

As a Category Buyer, you will take ownership for a defined group of commodities within upholstery and soft trim, being a focal point for the business and providing commodity management expertise. You will manage supplier relationships, issue RFQs and tenders, negotiate contracts, drive cost reduction initiatives, improve supplier performance and control delivery of goods/materials to ensure smooth manufacturing operations in a thriving NPI production environment. In addition, you will contribute to the creation of commodity sourcing strategies aligned with market trends and business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage supplier relationships, driving performance, quality and on-time delivery to Operations and other internal departmental needs and requirements.
• Serve as the focal point for Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities with suppliers.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, resolving technical, quality and delivery issues in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activity, including RFIs, RFQs, supplier evaluation and contract award.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms/LTAs to achieve cost savings.
• Drive sustainable and ethical sourcing practices across the supply chain.
• Develop, create and deliver Procurement strategies for the commodities and critical suppliers, securing a global supply base that meets the business cost, reliability and performance targets.
• Contribute to the overall Procurement make vs buy strategy, identifying opportunities and synergies both within the supply chain and current make portfolio.
• Provide recommendations based on analysis, research, trends, benchmarking and best practice.
• Leverage project/change management skills to manage outsourcing/re-sourcing projects.

Key Performance Measures

• On-time ordering (Purchasing placement) to the MRP demand signal.
• Supplier delivery (OTIF) and quality (defect rate) performance.
• Creation and execution of commodity specific sourcing strategies.
• Spend control (vs budget) and attainment of annual cost reduction targets.

Key Challenges

• An appropriate balance of Purchasing (transactional) vs Procurement (strategic).
• Operating in an NPI business environment, meaning heavily reliance on master data, planning, engineering and design collaboration.
• A high reliance on an agile yet robust supply chain, to support variability in manufacturing processes and component design.

Knowledge, Education, Skills and Experience

Knowledge: Category Supply Market knowledge, as detailed below; Upholstery Commodity (Interior décor for Aerospace cabin systems); Upholstery, fabrics, leathers, thread, and webbing materials. Critical features include appearance, comfort and durability driven by functional needs and aesthetic design. A diverse commodity driven by consumer personalisation, expanded even more through eco-friendly (renewable/recycled) and high performance requirement.

Education: CIPS qualification/Advanced Practitioner or equivalent is preferred.

Skills and competencies required:

• Adept at maintaining business relationships with internal and external stakeholders, even in geographically dispersed teams.
• Able to proactively identify and evaluate issues, and problem solve with creative and innovative thinking, in complex/ambiguous situations and with incomplete data.
• The ability to influence decision making at all levels, and across all functions.
• Skilled negotiator with both external and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player able to work across businesses and geographies.
• Strong initiative and commitment to accomplishing work and achieving results/deadlines.
• Demonstrates exceptional customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Offers new ideas and creative suggestions for continuous improvement.
• Ability to interpret technical manufacturing drawings and part templates.
• Actively participates in professional development and training opportunities.
• Leader or influencer of change (processes, projects, procedures).
• Professional-level communication required (verbal, written, listening).
• Intermediate to advanced technology skills (ERP, PowerBI, Microsoft Office).
• High degree of integrity as data confidentiality is paramount to this position.
• Ability to create, analyse, interpret, summarise and effectively communicate complex information.

Professional experience:

• Demonstrated experience in commodity procurement (>3 years), Upholstery and Soft Trim commodities strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience of Procuring for an NPI production environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated Procurement experience (>5 years) in a manufacturing environment, Aerospace or highly regulated industry is preferred.
• Demonstrated development and execution of structured commodity strategies, including negotiating pricing agreements and creation of contracts.
• Sound understanding of end-to-end supply chain planning and MRP systems.

Key Relationships & Interaction

Internal Relationships & Interactions: Confident working with all key individuals and teams in the supply chain and operational functions.

External Relationships & Interactions: Confident working with external suppliers of all sizes and in all geographies.

Other material requirements: Travel as and when required.

Please note: Numerous positions at AVIC Cabin Systems UK LTD are governed by security and export control regulations. These rules indicate that elements such as your nationality/any prior nationalities you may have held, and your birthplace can influence the positions you are qualified to undertake within the organisation. All candidates must at least meet the baseline personnel security standard. Additionally, certain roles demand elevated levels of National security vetting.

ACS UK Ltd is an equal opportunities employer.