Operative, Procurement in Guildford

Job description

At McLaren, our mission is to set the standard for high performance in sport. Everyone, in every part of the team, has a role to play. So if you want to test your ideas with the world watching... And measure your progress in milliseconds... And play your part in racing history... You belong here. High performance starts with you.

Purpose of the Role:

As a support role for the Indirect Procurement Team, covering a full and varied demand relating to goods and services with a particular focus on Information Technology, the individual will be responsible for all general purchasing activities, as well as administrative duties in support of the wider Indirect Procurement Team. This will be carried out in collaboration with, and with guidance from those more senior roles within the Indirect Procurement Team.

Experience for the role specific to Formula 1, high quality engineering, Aerospace, Information Technology, marketing or the sport industry would bring a distinct advantage but would not be essential.

Working closely with the rest of the Indirect Procurement Team, but independently at times, the role will be required to manage and prioritise their own workload to some degree, while also taking direction from a Senior Manager. The range of products and services to be covered will include but will not be limited to, the purchasing of goods, IT hardware, software, and general equipment and services to support a success focussed racing team and leading commercial sports operation. The individual will ensure that all deliverables within their remit are met in a timely, commercially astute and quality-centric manner, in-line with programme demands.

Alongside the purchasing aspect, admin support for the Indirect Procurement Team would also be required. This could include monitoring and updating of all Outstanding Orders to ensure that suppliers are working in-line with supplied purchase orders and price/delivery instructions, liaising with the Formula One Business Partners and the Finance team to ensure accuracy and continuity of purchasing data, assistance with the wider team’s workload as necessary, assisting in reviews of supply contracts, monitoring contractual compliance and managing contract renewals alongside any other tasks as required by the Senior Manager.

Role Dimensions:

• Reporting directly to a Senior Manager in Indirect Procurement, the main purpose of this role is to work in support of the successful sourcing and delivery of products and/or services in relation to the demands of the wider business. This will initially encompass areas IT, Commercial, Indy, WEC, HR, Finance and Heritage.

• The role will work under instruction from the Senior members of the team as necessary, as well as independently when tasks or workload allow.

• Direct contact with external suppliers will be essential to ensure that all demand requirements and strategic objectives are continually met.

• A professional, approachable and optimistic attitude will be required at all times, in line with the dynamic and varying demands of a championship winning Formula One Racing Team.

• Willingness to learn, grow, and expand on knowledge and abilities will be crucial to a successful integration and progression within the team.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Accountability for the processing of lower level purchasing demand to support all areas within the Indirect Procurement Team.

• In reaction to purchasing demand, development, loading and maintenance of purchase orders as necessary, ensuring on time delivery by the supplier is achieved to the required standard.

• Monitoring and influencing the performance of suppliers in relation to the individual’s portfolio of purchase orders placed.

• With guidance from senior members of the team where appropriate, maintenance of supplier relationships put in place and developed by the wider Indirect Procurement Team will be needed, while learning and applying techniques that will allow the growing of those relationships.

• Upholding a professional, personable and proactive approach to the role, whilst maintaining essential communication across the team, as well as with some key stakeholders and suppliers.

• With the support and direction of the Senior Manager, Procurement, and once the required skills and techniques can be demonstrated as being suitable: carry out negotiation with suppliers; review supply contracts; manage upcoming contract renewals; and ensure adherence to budgetary controls and cost-cap regulations.

• Any other tasks as required by the Company, appropriate to the role.

Job requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• In line with the expectations of this entry level role, no specific previous experience is required, however an interest in Formula One, engineering or Information Technology industries would be of benefit, as would a drive and determination to grow and improve both from a knowledge and personal perspective.

• Strong numeracy and written communication skills are essential, reflecting the standards expected in a professional capacity. Role-specific competencies will be provided as needed to support ongoing development and excellence in performance.

• A working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite of software products would be an advantage, but not essential.

• Experience reviewing, drafting and managing supply contracts or training in this area would be an advantage, but not essential.

• An understanding of MRP/ERP software methodologies would also be an advantage, but are again not essential as all training will be provided.

• The role has an enduringly intense workload, in keeping with those areas of the business that are directly related to a milestone driven and well organised race programme. The willingness and enthusiasm to develop the ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously, at times working under pressure and unassisted, while managing time effectively would be desirable attributes.

Personal Attributes:

• The role requires that the candidate must be responsible, calm, focussed and motivated, whilst demonstrating a proactive, organised, and flexible approach to changing priorities.

• The individual will demonstrate a drive to improve both at a personal and role specific level.

• They will be expected to work with a high attention to detail at all times.

• They must be professional and capable of communicating at all levels, both internally and externally.

• They will possess the ability to independently prioritise a demanding workload, while ensuring that the correct level of guidance is secured from the relevant manager where necessary.

• Able to act under pressure with calmness and clarity of thought.

• Will be able to recognise when assistance is required in order to resolve challenging situations as and when they arise.

• A confident but respectful communicator.

• A flexible approach to working hours and practices is necessary.

What can McLaren offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Here at McLaren, we offer hybrid working with 3 days a week based in the MTC.

Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.