At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage purchasing activities and ensure materials are available for production in a fast-paced aerospace environment.
- Company: Join a renowned engineering business experiencing exciting growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work culture.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with opportunities for professional growth and learning.
- Why this job: Be a key player in supply chain management and contribute to cutting-edge aerospace projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or supply chain roles, preferably in manufacturing or aerospace.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 44000 £ per year.
Our Client are an internationally renowned engineering business, who are enjoying continued growth across many departments. They are now seeking an experienced Buyer to join a highly successful team.
As Buyer, you will play an important part in keeping production moving by ensuring materials, components, consumables, and services are available when needed. You will be involved in day-to-day purchasing activity, supplier communication, and supply chain coordination within a busy aerospace manufacturing environment. Working closely with Planning, Production, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and external suppliers, you will support continuity of supply, resolve issues, and contribute to improvements in cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance.
Wider duties will include:
- Purchasing & Supply Management: You will take ownership of raising, placing, and managing purchase orders in line with business requirements, approved suppliers, and internal procedures. This includes ensuring materials, components, consumables, and services are ordered in time to support production schedules and customer delivery commitments. You will monitor open purchase orders, expedite deliveries where required, and communicate potential supply risks proactively. Accurate purchasing information, including delivery dates, supplier responses, pricing, and ERP/MRP records, will be an important part of the role.
- Supplier Management: You will build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers to support quality, cost, and delivery objectives. You will also request and review quotations, compare supplier responses, and contribute to value-for-money purchasing decisions. The role will involve supporting supplier performance monitoring, including delivery performance, quality issues, responsiveness, and commercial competitiveness. You will work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve shortages, late deliveries, invoice queries, and non-conformance issues in a timely and professional manner.
- Inventory, Planning & Operational Support: Working closely with Planning, Warehouse(s) and Production, you will help ensure purchased items are available in line with manufacturing demand. This will include reviewing purchase requirements, order acknowledgements, lead times, and stock availability to help prevent material shortages or excess inventory. You will also assist with stock control activities, including minimum order quantities, reorder levels, and supplier lead-time reviews, while contributing to continuous improvement initiatives across purchasing, inventory management, and supply chain processes.
- Compliance, Records & Administration: Procurement activity must be completed in line with company procedures, quality requirements, and applicable customer or regulatory expectations. You will maintain accurate purchasing files, supplier records, order confirmations, and supporting documentation. You may also support audits and internal reviews by providing accurate procurement information when required.
The ideal candidate for the role of Buyer will have:
- Experience within a buyer, procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or materials planning role, ideally gained within a manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, or another regulated environment.
- Confidence using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications is important, along with the ability to maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data.
- A sound understanding of core manufacturing and supply chain concepts would be beneficial, including Bills of Materials, lead times, inventory control, demand planning, production schedules, and supplier delivery performance.
- A professional and confident communicator, comfortable working with suppliers, colleagues, and stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong planning and organisational skills are essential, together with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Be analytical, detail-focused, commercially aware, and able to interpret purchasing data, supplier information, and stock requirements accurately.
- Having a proactive, adaptable, and team-oriented approach will help you succeed, particularly when responding to changing priorities and supporting operational performance.
Desirable: Knowledge of aerospace, defence, or quality-controlled manufacturing environments would be an advantage, although relevant experience from other manufacturing settings will also be considered.
Buyer employer: Orchard Recruitment
As a Buyer at our internationally renowned engineering business, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. We offer competitive benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to continuous improvement, all within a vibrant aerospace manufacturing environment that is at the forefront of industry advancements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with Orchard Recruitment for a Buyer. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at Orchard Recruitment, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At Orchard Recruitment, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at Orchard Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with Orchard Recruitment.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with Orchard Recruitment. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like Orchard Recruitment love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
