Strategic Buyer - Network in South Molton

Nestled in the heart of Devon, UK, the South Molton plant is home to a team of over 400 talented professionals, driving excellence in aerospace manufacturing. With a proud history dating back to 1973, this facility has grown into a powerhouse of precision engineering, delivering high‑quality components to some of the world’s most renowned aerospace brands. What makes South Molton unique? Our one‑of‑a‑kind investment casting foundry, established in 1975, sets us apart from all other Eaton Aerospace plants. Today, our focus is on designing, manufacturing, and testing top‑tier aerospace components, ensuring safety, reliability, and cutting‑edge innovation. We proudly collaborate with industry giants like Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, and Augusta Westland, with our main customer being Eaton’s Titchfield facility in Hampshire, UK. If you’re looking for a dynamic environment, world‑class engineering, and the opportunity to shape the future of aerospace, South Molton is the place to be!

What You’ll Do

• The Supply Chain orchestration from customer to supplier requires a strong operational partner to manage, measure and maintain business relations with external supply chain partners.
• The Strategic Buyer – Networks is responsible for complex procurement of custom products and services and related supply chain aspects such as purchase orders, inbound volumes, spend, procurement volumes, forecast and capacity commits and supplier performance and compliance, with a focus on non‑standard, non‑repeat buying, including stranger / alien programs.
• The Buyer’s focus lies on new and defined suppliers for a range of products procured from outside of Eaton.

In This Function You Will

• Procure parts and services with complex or custom requirements, with a focus on non‑standard, non‑repeat buying, including stranger / alien programs.
• Drive the part deactivation and reactivation processes to include obsolescence as required to meet customer demands.
• Collaborate in Aftermarket quoting process with commercial teams.
• Accountable for managing the producibility decision process for the plant (dormant parts / “none” process / supplier unknown).
• Manage in‑site transitions (supplier movement / gate processes / ramp up / ramp down) based on risk matrix.
• Manage all technical procurement activities associated with ITAR & other undisclosed programs.
• Receive, validate and communicate Engineering Specs for parts with support of Engineering – ITAR & other undisclosed programs.
• Engage suppliers in tender preparation and align on responsibilities for delivery.
• Manage Material Forecast collaboration and receive capacity commits from suppliers.

Qualifications Required (Basic) Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, operations or a combination of those functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering or supply chain from an accredited institution.
• 2+ years of procurement or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years’ experience with SAP MRP/ERP system preferred.
• 2+ years’ experience working in a high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturing environment.

Skills Position Criteria

• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment, get results and drive change through others.
• Effective oral and written communication skills as well as planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage by influence through solid relationships and process focus.
• Ability to effectively present results and recommendations to senior‑level executive team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.).

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Challenging projects in dynamic collaborative team.
• Great company benefits.
• Eaton encourages internal promotion, whenever possible.
• We invest in our employees for the long term – not just with salary and benefits, but with ongoing learning and development opportunities made available through Eaton University.
• Reliability, safety, efficiency, and sustainability are at the core of our dedication to improving people’s lives and the through power management technologies.
• We put your health and safety first. Wellness at Eaton is more than a program, it’s about changing the environment by offering the right tools to help empower employees to make that happen.

The successful applicant will be in contact with US ITAR controlled technology, goods and information. As a condition of employment, employees with access to US ITAR controlled technology and goods may be required to undergo an additional screening process as part of the recruitment process. All positions may require participation in video and in‑person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job‑related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for job applicants and employees. Our recruitment processes use balanced selection criteria and avoid unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of their age, colour, disability, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race or racial origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected or required by law.