At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing and manage supplier relationships in a dynamic engineering environment.
- Company: Join a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous improvement and professional development.
- Why this job: Shape procurement strategies and drive commercial value in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: 5-7 years' experience in strategic procurement within engineering or manufacturing.
Senior Mechanical Buyer £50-60K
Location: Buckinghamshire (4 days on-site)
About the Opportunity
Copello are recruiting for an experienced Senior Mechanical Buyer to join a leading engineering and manufacturing organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to take ownership of strategic sourcing activities across high-value and business-critical commodity categories.
Working as part of an established Procurement team, you will develop and implement category strategies, manage key supplier relationships, drive commercial value, and support new product introduction programmes while ensuring supply chain resilience and operational excellence.
This position would suit someone with a strong background in strategic procurement within a complex engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, defence or similar regulated environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement long-term category strategies that deliver cost savings, improve quality, enhance delivery performance and reduce supply chain risk.
- Lead strategic sourcing activities across assigned commodity categories.
- Conduct supplier market analysis, benchmarking and supplier assessments to identify sourcing opportunities and supplier rationalisation initiatives.
- Manage the full tendering process including RFIs, RFQs and RFPs.
- Lead supplier negotiations, including pricing, commercial terms, framework agreements and long-term contracts.
- Manage end-to-end supply of assigned commodities, ensuring materials are available to support operational requirements.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure procurement strategies align with business objectives.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) activities through early supplier engagement and prototype sourcing.
- Monitor supplier performance against key metrics including quality, delivery, cost and responsiveness.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supplier base, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs and enhance supplier performance.
- Manage purchase price variance (PPV) improvements across assigned categories.
- Ensure supplier risks are identified, managed and mitigated.
- Support contract management activities to ensure commercial compliance and supplier accountability.
- Work collaboratively with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations and Supply Chain teams to support business objectives.
Skills & Experience
We're looking for candidates with:
- 5–7+ years' experience as a Senior Buyer, Commodity Buyer or Category Buyer.
- Proven experience managing strategic procurement categories within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills, including contract and framework agreement negotiation.
- Experience developing and implementing category strategies.
- Excellent supplier relationship management skills.
- Strong analytical capability, including cost modelling and total cost of ownership analysis.
- Experience working within MRP/ERP environments.
- Knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies and supplier performance management.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Experience
Experience within one or more of the following would be advantageous:
- Aerospace
- Defence
- High-value manufacturing
- PCB Assembly
- CNC Machining
- Injection or Compression Moulding
Professional qualifications such as CIPS, CPM, an MBA or a relevant degree in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business would also be beneficial.
Key Competencies
- Strategic sourcing and category management
- Supplier relationship management
- Contract management
- Commercial negotiation
- Supply chain optimisation
- Cost reduction and value engineering
- Continuous improvement
- Risk management
- Project management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Commercial and financial awareness
- Resilience and problem solving
Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured through:
- Delivery of cost savings and productivity improvements
- Purchase Price Variance (PPV) reduction
- Successful execution of category strategies
- Supplier quality, delivery and performance improvements
- Supply chain risk reduction
- Stakeholder satisfaction
- Successful contract management
- Continuous improvement initiatives
- Compliance with responsible sourcing and regulatory requirements
If you're an experienced procurement professional looking to join a business where you can influence sourcing strategy, build strong supplier partnerships and deliver measurable commercial value, we'd be pleased to hear from you.
Senior Mechanical Buyer in Milton Keynes employer: Copello Global
Join a leading defence and engineering organisation as an EMC Engineer, where you will be part of a dynamic and experienced team dedicated to the design and development of cutting-edge electronic products. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, fantastic benefits, and a hybrid work model, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while enjoying a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Mechanical Buyer in Milton Keynes
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Copello Global.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Mechanical Buyer in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Copello Global:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Copello Global. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Copello Global.
How to prepare for a job interview at Copello Global
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Copello Global!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Copello Global. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Copello Global's culture.
