Cambridge Aerospace
Senior Buyer - Indirect
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Overview
As Senior Buyer - Indirect at Cambridge Aerospace, you will report to the Category Manager - Indirect and manage day-to-day sourcing and supplier activity for a broad portfolio of non-production goods and services. Working with stakeholders across the business, you will turn approved requirements into well-controlled, commercially sound and timely supplier arrangements. You will also support the operational purchasing needs of Product Development, helping ensure orders are placed accurately and on time. The role supports multiple company sites, and some business travel will be required.
Responsibilities
- Manage end-to-end sourcing activity for assigned indirect categories, from requirement clarification and market research through RFQ or tender, evaluation, negotiation, recommendation and purchase or contract placement.
- Support the operational needs of Product Development by processing and progressing approved orders, coordinating with requestors and suppliers, and helping resolve delivery, pricing or order-related issues.
- Support categories including IT, software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, professional services, contractors, recruitment, facilities, marketing, training, travel, legal, finance, utilities, capital equipment, leases, logistics and other business services.
- Work with stakeholders to define scope, specifications, service levels, delivery expectations, budgets and evaluation criteria before approaching suppliers.
- Obtain competitive quotations, conduct commercial comparisons and negotiate price, payment terms, service levels, lead times, renewal terms and other relevant conditions.
- Coordinate supplier onboarding, due diligence and internal approvals, ensuring no commitment is made before the required procurement and financial controls are complete.
- Monitor supplier delivery and service performance, resolve commercial issues and support structured reviews and improvement actions.
- Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, standardise requirements, reduce cost, improve terms and increase use of preferred suppliers.
- Support the Category Manager - Indirect with spend analysis, category plans, sourcing pipelines, market intelligence, supplier risk and stakeholder updates.
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Requirements
- Strong experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer managing indirect goods and services in a commercial environment.
- Demonstrable experience running competitive RFQs or tenders, evaluating supplier proposals and negotiating commercial terms.
- Good understanding of purchase orders, Statements of Work, subscriptions, licences, services agreements and recurring supplier commitments.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to build clear commercial comparisons and recommendations.
- Organised and accurate, with effective prioritisation across multiple stakeholders and sourcing activities.
- Confident communicator who can challenge requirements constructively and maintain positive stakeholder relationships.
- Practical, proactive and comfortable working in a fast-growing environment where processes continue to evolve.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in defence, aerospace, manufacturing, engineering, technology or another regulated environment.
- Experience sourcing IT, SaaS, professional services, facilities, recruitment, travel or other corporate services.
- Working knowledge of supplier due diligence, data protection, information security and contract-risk considerations.
- CIPS qualification, progress toward CIPS, or equivalent procurement training.
- Experience using ERP, e-procurement, contract-management or spend-analysis tools.
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What We Offer
- Competitive compensation and stock options
- Private Medical & Dental
- Cycle to work scheme
- Lunchtime catering on site
About Us
The mission of Cambridge Aerospace is to eliminate the risk of existential war in Europe. That risk comes from the air - low-cost drones and cruise missiles now manufactured in colossal volumes by our adversaries, ballistic missiles capable of ending the world as we know it, and a new generation of hypersonic weapons that evade every existing defence.
We are building low-cost interceptors that defeat these threats, and the surveillance systems to detect and target them - at a cost taxpayers can afford, at the pace the threat demands, and with sovereign supply chains that assure delivery.
We have immense backing from the world's best venture funds. We are one of the fastest growing defence technology companies in history. And we are hiring the best people to prosecute the mission.
If you are in the top 1%, willing to work harder than you ever have, build capability better than anyone else, and contribute to the defining challenge of our time, now is the time to join us.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are excited about this role but do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.
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