Tactical Buyer / Procurement Specialist

Job Title: Operational Buyer
Industry: Aerospace and Defence
Contract: 6 Months (Likely Extension)
Location: Bristol
Pay: Competitive Hourly Rate £20PH - £25PH

Are you an experienced Operational Buyer with a passion for ensuring seamless procurement processes in a cutting-edge industry? Join our Aerospace and Defence client and play a pivotal role in driving supplier performance, enhancing procurement strategies, and delivering operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement Strategy Support:

• Analyze purchase requests to ensure compliance with supplier policies, agreements, and strategic needs.
• Assess local business needs, contribute to global category strategies, and identify opportunities for synergy and communalization.
• Ensure alignment with category buyer strategies and manage acquisition processes when required.

Contribute to Competitiveness:

• Manage local RFPs and negotiations within delegated authority thresholds.
• Ensure procurement performance is declared upon purchase order creation.
• Verify compliance with milestone payment plans and TAS payment terms.

Supplier Performance Support:

• Deliver monthly operational supplier performance KPIs and collaborate with suppliers to address challenges.
• Work with Supplier Performance Managers (SPM) to mitigate workload risks and report critical issues.
• Contribute to claim management and participate in Supplier Performance Assessments (SPA) and Supplier Business Reviews.

Acquisition Process Management:

• Ensure procurement processes and templates are applied to maintain transparency.
• Accurately input data in Oracle and issue purchase orders (POs).
• Negotiate and manage PO acknowledgments, ensuring compliance with export controls, health and safety regulations, and internal standards.
• Handle non-conformance communication, disputes, and invoicing issues effectively.

Personal Qualities:

• Open-minded, proactive, and curious, with a drive to improve and develop.
• Strong technical and commercial background in aerospace products, equipment, and procurement.
• Excellent teamwork and relationship-building skills, with perseverance to achieve commitments.
• Capable of managing changes in context, tasks, and workloads in an international setting.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge of aerospace regulations, certifications, and special processes.
• Proven experience in supplier management and evaluating offers/proposals.
• Proficiency in Oracle (or similar ERP systems) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Organizational and priority management skills with a focus on progress control.

If you're ready to make a significant impact in the Aerospace and Defence sector, we'd love to hear from you.