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 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Senior Global Commodity Buyer will be responsible for managing procurement expenditure for the systems and fasteners “commodity”. The prime focus will be on supporting the Luton and Garden Grove facilities (U.S.), which make aircraft transparencies and anti-ice aircraft systems, although there will also be a need to support the commodity procurement functions with the other Defence business line sites (Cowes, Hoogeveen, Tallassee) where the manufacture is centred around making aero-structures and engine nacelles. The Luton/Garden Grove procurement requirements are typically for raw materials (eg acrylic, glass, chemicals), as well as parts (eg ranging from formed glass windows to seals to fasteners), whereas the procurement requirements of the other sites cover a whole range of proprietary or supplier-designed/qualified products.

Typically, the products are sole sourced and competitive leverage is limited. Therefore the role will require the ability to forge strong strategic relationships with the suppliers, negotiate best value for GKN, put long-term agreements in place, and to ensure a joined-up approach across the GKN sites, especially where suppliers are common to more than one GKN site. The role entails operating with a high degree of autonomy whilst being an effective member of the commodity management team delivering cost effective solutions. The role will involve working closely with stakeholders within GKN (eg Programme Management, Engineering, Quality, Site Procurement and Commercial functions), to ensure GKN is maximising the opportunities within its supply chain, in order to give GKN competitive advantage.

Reporting to the Commodity Procurement Manager, the Senior Global Commodity Buyer be based at the Luton manufacturing facility. The role will require flexibility for National and International travel for supplier visits and to other GKN sites such as Cowes, Isle of Wight and Bristol. Flexibility with working hours is required, to meet the needs of the business, due to some suppliers are based overseas.

Job Responsibilities

• Support the commodity team to meet or exceed profit plan goals related to commodities including cost savings, economics, working capital, quality, supplier rationalisation, low cost sourcing and other agreed objectives • Take Leadership when required for commodity activities in coordination with costing and engineering to drive a competitive advantage for GKN Aerospace • Negotiating pricing, and terms and conditions with suppliers, and ensuring internal stakeholder approval is granted, to enable binding long term agreements to be put in place. • Support in the development of commodity strategies for the relevant commodities • Support and prepare the make or buy decisions preparing data and plans for relevant commodity gate reviews • Support efforts concerning supply base rationalization and supplier development • Ensure leveraging synergies across the GKN global network • Budgeting of procurement bills of materials

How You'll Contribute

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes: Essential: • Significant procurement experience gained from a manufacturing or engineering environment • Experience of delivering cost reductions and mitigating cost increases across global supply chains • Experience of improving service levels across failing global supply chains • Experience of managing and growing global supplier relationships • Experience of negotiating and agreeing supplier contracts • Experience of working cross functionally within a global multi-site organisation ensuring stakeholder engagement and reporting • Procurement related risk management experience

Desirable: • A relevant BSc Degree or equivalent such as Supply Chain, Business or Engineering • CIPS Membership • Experience gained from a global organisation • Experience gained from the Aerospace industry • Experience of Project Management or Manufacturing Engineering

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. The Senior Global Commodity Buyer will be a decisive, ethical and adaptable natural leader who is able to empower others through motivation, recognition and performance feedback whilst clearly and confidently communicating at all levels. The incumbent will be a team player who works well with ambiguity and who has excellent prioritisation, organisation and influencing skills together with a high degree of customer focus, commercial acumen and emotional intelligence.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits: • Competitive salary dependent on experience • The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus • Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis • Life Assurance 8 x salary • 185 hours holiday + bank holidays • Income protection • Shopping discounts • Cycle To Work Scheme • Employee Assistance Programme • Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family • Free onsite parking • Local gym discount • 50% off local travel card • Free airport Dart • Free airport parking • Enhanced family friendly leave • A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply

#LI-ONSITE

#LI-CH1

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. ​

​