Senior Category Buyer

Mirus Aircraft Seating is entering an exciting phase of growth, evolving from a specialist, low-volume engineering business into a full scale OEM manufacturer. We are seeking a Senior Category Buyer to join our team on a permanent basis.

About the role

This key role will see you leading on the creation and execution of a robust and sustainable procurement category strategy across all Categories. This will include analysing spend, technology roadmaps, evaluating supplier capability and capacity and competitiveness to establish a low cost, high quality and agile supply base for your area of control. You will need to engage constructively with colleagues across the business to understand and mitigate supply risks and develop a plan which has buy-in from key stakeholders across the business, including Executive Management.

In your role as our Senior Category Buyer, you will:

• Support the Head of Supply Chain in guiding the team of Buyers, assisting with departmental metrics, reporting out and representing the department at all levels.
• Manage Sourcing of identified categories of spend, creating a robust and sustainable procurement category strategy – including:
• Leading supplier selection through developing a sourcing plan which addresses cost, working capital (payment terms and inventory holding), quality and lead-time.
• Presenting the strategy to senior management to achieve buy-in and ensuring the Supply Chain department is pro-actively engaged in all aspects of sourcing.
• Ensuring the plan is executed effectively with tactical issues being effectively addressed whilst managing the longer-term strategic development of the Category.
• Effectively managing the development of new sources to achieve these goals and a robust exit plan for non-preferred suppliers.
• Lead structured Business Reviews with key suppliers to align on performance, supply risks and improvement actions needed.
• Foster a collaborative relationship with key suppliers – creating a robust plan to enhance supplier input into the design and development of new materials.
• Control and lead supplier negotiations including Contract implementation and adherence.
• Identify and create plans to manage supply risk across the business globally. This would include understanding supply risk below the Tier 1 supply point, modelling and taking action to ensure sufficient capacity is available to support demand.
• Draft and execute clear commercial agreements (Contracts, Framework Agreements) which underpin performance requirements and obligations.
• Raise, execute and manage purchase orders.
• Support Expediting of raw material supply within Mirus supply chain as required. Where possible, identify where lead times can be sustainably reduced to build a more flexible supply chain.
• Maintain effective and positive working relationships within Supply Chain and across the business.
• Be mindful of total cost of acquisition costs when negotiating with Suppliers.
• Be an integral part of developing and supporting Supplier Risk Register.
• Lead and manage any “High Risk” suppliers through audit, visits and business reviews in conjunction with Supplier Quality Team.
• Any other activities necessary to ensure the Supply Chain group delivers its objectives.

About you

To help Mirus continue our journey of growth, you will bring your expertise within a purchasing and supply chain capacity, a passion for innovation, analysing abilities and drive for operational excellence along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Experience in purchasing, supply chain, materials control, logistics or expediting.
• Experience working within either a manufacturing or engineering industry.
• Experience of operating within both a development and a serial production environment including working with Engineering.
• Understanding of business ERP and MRP ordering systems.
• IT literate (primarily with MS Excel) with an understanding of ERP systems in a manufacturing business.
• Eligible to work in the UK and ability to work flexible hours, as required.
• A desire for advancement to Purchasing / Supply Chain Manager role within a few years.
• Willing to travel as needed – possibly including supplier visits internationally.
• Have the right to work in the UK with no restrictions.

Desirable:

• Experience of operating within automotive / aerospace sectors.
• CIPS or equivalent professional qualification, or desire to work towards.
• Contract drafting experience.
• Understanding of Incoterms and Logistics.
• Experience of working with suppliers based in Asia.

Personal skills / attributes:

• Ability to foster excellent relationships with suppliers.
• Ability to communicate and influence at all levels both internally and externally.
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Must be a reliable, conscientious, strong character with a good eye for detail.
• Thrive in a challenging environment, be approachable, collaborative and have a flexible attitude.
• A will to succeed and drive the business and department forward.

Please kindly note, at this moment in time we are respectfully not engaging with any agencies for our roles.