GKN Aerospace
Buyer (After Market & Bids)
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Buyer (After Market & Bids)
Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
Based in our thriving East Cowes facilities, and reporting into the Procurement Operations Manager (After Market & Bids), the Buyer will be accountable for local commercial management and assigned non-strategic sourcing for the geographical area under their responsibility, requesting and reviewing quotes, and placing orders once demand is loaded. They will maintain relationships with suppliers through communication and engagement.
They will also be responsible for in-contract modifications, minor transfers or new products; ensuring that products are sourced at competitive prices in line with aerospace commodity strategy, and the management of supplier delivery for parts sourced as modifications, transfers or new products until FAI is achieved.
Job Responsibilities
- Responsible for reporting procurement activity and site reviews for the geographical area under his / her responsibility.
- Responsible for the geographical area interface between programme and commodity management for new sourcing and change programmes in line with the group commodity strategy.
- Support commodity managers for the geographic region supplier selection RFQ / RFP with the use of E-Sourcing tools.
- Responsible for parts / supplier transfers and industrialisation (Minor transfers) through to FAI.
- Drive implementation of global / regional agreements within geographic area.
- Responsible for all PO demands placed upon suppliers to ensure that Key Objectives of cost, quality and delivery are secured.
- Responsible for site procurement change control, export control and ITAR.
- Responsible for the delivery / maintenance / Integrity of site BOM.
- Responsible for ensuring item / contract data is updated and maintained.
- Responsible for the flow down of enabled customer materials, pricing and skyline forecasts to Suppliers.
- Responsible for developing and supporting site cost reduction opportunities and supplier development plans in-line with business requirements.
- Responsible for supplier risk including use of rate readiness templates and awareness of Dunn & Bradstreet for financials.
- Responsible for Managing Raw Material Inventory levels for Purchase Order parts in line with programme targets and start dates.
- Responsible for the resolution of Invoice queries related to pricing.
- Be an escalation point for any cost / contractual issues with Suppliers working with Senior Buyers and commodity managers.
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Job Qualifications
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Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate:
- Significant, broad procurement experience, preferably gained within a large manufacturing organisation (aerospace preferred, but similar will acceptable);
- Solid relationship building skills;
- Confidence, gravitas, and maturity;
- Ability for independent thinking;
- Formal Procurement qualifications preferred.
We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.
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