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Global Commodity Senior Buyer
Bristol | On-site | Up to £60,000 + Strong Benefits Package
Aerospace/defence/civil
Shape global supply chains. Influence strategy. Help build the future of aerospace.
This is an opportunity for an experienced procurement professional to step into a high-impact Global Commodity Senior Buyer position within a technically advanced aerospace manufacturing environment.
You’ll take ownership of significant strategic spend across Machining, Fabrications and Special Processes, working across a complex international supply chain and partnering with suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver measurable commercial value.
The procurement function has responsibility for more than £100m of expenditure, this is a role where your procurement expertise, commercial judgement, and ability to influence will genuinely make a difference.
The Opportunity
As Global Commodity Senior Buyer, you’ll help shape and execute commodity strategies across multiple sites, ensuring the supply chain can support both current operations and future business growth.
You’ll combine strategic procurement, supplier management, commercial negotiation, and category expertise, working closely with engineering, operations, finance, and other key stakeholders.
This is not simply a buying role. You’ll be expected to understand the market, challenge existing thinking, identify opportunities and turn strategy into tangible results.
What you’ll be doing
- Develop and execute commodity strategies that maximise value and support business objectives.
- Manage significant spend across Machining, Fabrications and Special Processes.
- Analyse expenditure, cost drivers, and supply markets to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Lead strategic sourcing activity across multiple sites and business areas.
- Develop and negotiate commercial agreements and contracts with key suppliers.
- Build strong relationships with strategic suppliers while maintaining appropriate commercial leverage.
- Segment and manage the supplier base according to business requirements and strategic importance.
- Establish effective supplier governance and performance management frameworks.
- Drive measurable cost savings, value creation, and commercial improvements.
- Ensure contracts and sourcing strategies are effectively implemented across the business.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand current and future programme requirements.
- Support new business and growth opportunities by developing capable, competitive supply chains.
- Support major bids and programmes where significant commodity requirements exist.
- Monitor supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, and contractual compliance.
- Use market intelligence and supplier insight to continuously improve category strategies.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for a procurement professional who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on, delivery-focused approach.
You’ll ideally have:
- Around 5+ years’ experience in strategic sourcing and procurement.
- Strong experience managing significant, multi-million-pound spend.
- Knowledge of relevant manufacturing categories, ideally including machining, fabrication, or special processes.
- A proven track record of delivering measurable procurement savings and commercial value.
- Strong strategic sourcing and category management capability.
- Experience negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships.
- Excellent commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities beyond straightforward cost reduction.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- The confidence to influence across a complex, multi-site organisation.
- A pragmatic approach and the determination to turn strategy into results.
- Experience within aerospace, advanced engineering or another technically complex manufacturing environment would be highly advantageous.
- CIPS or a relevant degree/professional qualification would be desirable.
Why join?
This is a chance to join an organisation operating at the cutting edge of aerospace manufacturing, where procurement is genuinely viewed as a strategic function.
You’ll have the opportunity to work with sophisticated supply chains, major international suppliers and technically demanding categories while playing a direct role in improving competitiveness and supporting future growth.
The package
- Salary up to £60,000, depending on experience
- Annual bonus
- Industry-leading pension
- 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays
- Plus, numerous fringe benefits
Excellent long-term career progression
Ready to take your procurement career to the next level?
If you’re an ambitious procurement professional who wants to take ownership of major categories, influence supply chain strategy and deliver meaningful commercial results, this could be your next move.
Join a business where procurement has a seat at the table and where your decisions can help shape the future of aerospace.
Important Information
This role is fully site-based in Bristol.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
The successful candidate will also be required to obtain and maintain BPSS security clearance as part of the recruitment process.
Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.
In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included.
7139908 – Dan Plimmer