Procurement Administrator -hybrid or Remote

Job Title: Procurement/Purchasing/Buyer (Aerospace & Defence) Location: Cambridge – with flexible travel across the UK and Europe Job Type: Full time Industry: Aerospace/Defence | Start-ups & Scale-ups Reports to: Head of Manufacturing For this role… The ideal candidate will have experience coming through the ranks from a manufacturing environment, keeping track of their career through buying, purchasing, procurement and ideally has good knowledge of the whole manufacturing process, or is a qualified engineer themselves. You will have a good understanding of budgeting, commercials, forecasting, and a bonus if you have come from a start-up or scale-up company, ideally from automotive, aerospace or electronic component manufacturing. About the Role… We are seeking an experienced Procurement buyer to assist managers with our end-to-end supply chain function. The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience in with purchasing, buying and procurement ideally from a technical engineering sector. Key Responsibilities Procurement Management (Direct & Indirect) Lead sourcing and procurement activities for direct materials, indirect goods, and services. Develop procurement strategies that align with company goals, budget constraints, and regulatory compliance. Supplier Management assist with supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and ongoing performance management. help with long-term and short-term commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing and strong service-level agreements. Cost Optimisation ~ Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process efficiency. Forecasting & Planning Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure material availability. Integrate forecasting into procurement and stock planning systems to support operational continuity. BOM Analysis & Alignment Conduct deep-dive analysis of Bills of Materials to optimise sourcing and validate costing accuracy. Work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to support product lifecycle requirements. Inventory & Stores Control Oversee all aspects of inventory management, including stock accuracy, safety stock, and turnover. Implement robust stores control procedures and continuous improvement measures. Compliance & Standards ~ Ensure adherence to applicable industry standards and regulations (e.g., AS9100, ISO, MOD/defence procurement protocols). Qualifications & Experience Essential: ~5+ years of progressive buying, procurement, supply chain experience. ~ Strong background in start-up and scale-up environments. ~ Industry expertise in defence, automotive, and/or aerospace sectors. ~ Track record in direct and indirect procurement, supplier management, negotiation, and cost optimisation. ~ Experience in forecasting, BOM analysis, stock management, and stores operations. Desirable: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, APICS, Lean Six Sigma). ERP/MRP system proficiency (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite). Key Skills: End-to-end procurement Supplier development and management Inventory planning and stores control BOM analysis and cost control Process design and operational scaling