Senior Buyer (Indirect / Direct Procurement)

We're looking for a Senior Buyer (Indirect / Direct Procurement) to join our Advanced Manufacturing Facility based in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. This role benefits from our 4xFlex working pattern, offering a 4-day working week Monday - Thursday and hybrid working. Onsite working days are Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday and Thursday typically worked from home.

This role is part of the Lockheed Martin UK Supply Chain Organisation managing the total supply chain for goods and services to meet a variety of programme and business requirements.

The successful candidate will join a renowned international defence company, with a range of technically innovative products and excellent opportunities for career progression, and personal and professional development.

Focussing on managing supplier delivery, it primarily supports the development and production in Armoured Vehicles, Platform Integration, Special Projects and Weapons areas & domains to meet domestic and international programme and business needs. LMUK (Ampthill) has a worldwide supply base although predominantly in the UK, Europe, Middle East and the US.

Success requires experience of working in a functional organisation and a blend of proven skills including relationship building and achievement of deliveries on time and in full, through the ability to successfully negotiate and manage procurements, ranging from simple to complex subcontracts. This will be coupled with effectively working within a multi-disciplinary product team including Engineering, Operations and Quality.

The role covers both Direct and Indirect Procurement supporting a variety of programmes and undertakes activity across multiple categories of goods and services including simple to complex build to print in commodity areas including PCB's, box-builds, cable harnesses, mechanical, COTs and MOTs on the Direct side, where the Indirect activities cover the purchase of goods and services essential for the day-to-day operations of the business.

Responsibilities may extend across the product life cycle and include:

• Undertaking the procurement process including issuing RFQ’s, Invitation to Tender, Terms and Conditions, negotiations, bid evaluations, and award of contract .
• Holding a procurement delegation and signing supplier agreements and purchase orders within this limit.
• Negotiating with suppliers to ensure best-value is achieved.
• Managing supplier performance to meet Technical, Schedule, Quality and Cost requirements.
• Developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships with key internal and external business contacts to achieve mutual benefit.
• Ensuring procurement activities are compliant with internal/legislative procedures, and that risks are identified and managed.
• Providing the key interface between internal customers and suppliers to ensure that communication is effectively managed, and issues and risks are fully understood and managed.
• Supporting internal and external reviews of supplier performance as required.
• Contributing to the continual improvement of the supply chain processes.

The successful candidate must achieve the appropriate level (SC) of security clearance. More details can be found here.

Required skills, qualifications and experience

• Proven experience as a Senior Buyer / Senior Procurement Officer or related role
• Must evidence Indirect and Direct procurement experience
• Excellent understanding of procurement best practice.
• Excellent commercial skills with the ability to analyse and negotiate best-value agreements.
• Knowledge of strategic sourcing and advanced procurement techniques/tools.
• Excellent commercial skills with the ability to analyse and negotiate best-value agreements.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively manage stakeholders’ expectations at a variety of levels.
• Data literate with strong analytical skills.
• Highly motivated, determined, and committed individual with a proven record of achieving cost saving targets/objectives.
• Individual who thrives on challenges, and has experience working within a fast paced procurement function or similar environment.
• Direct experience of the management of tactical supplier relationships.
• Understanding of related disciplines/departments within a design and manufacturing environment.
• Contract management skills
• Ability to work assignments under general direction, independently determining and developing approaches to solutions.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications.
• Flexibility to travel as required.

Desired Skills

• Experience in high value CAPEX procurements (Machinery procurement experience preferred)
• Experience of tendering and managing complex service contracts (hard and soft services)
• Experience of small building works
• Mechanical (fabrications/machined items) and Electrical (box-build, cables, components) buying experience
• Supply chain experience in the defence environment
• Experience in the various phases of the product lifecycle from proposal capture, programme start-up, development, production, sustainment and end-of-life
• Flexibility to work at different levels of sub contract complexity (off the shelf, build to print, MOTs, and design to specification)
• Knowledge of SAP ERP system
• Bachelors’ degree in a business/scientific/technical discipline
• Knowledge/experience of process improvement methodologies
• CIPS or working towards CIPS

Business Environment

Lockheed Martin (UK) Ampthill is a rapidly changing, dynamic part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation with both domestic and international customers. It consists of business areas focusing on Platform Integration, Ground Based Air Defence, Special Projects and Weapons, which provide a variety of products and services to the Ministry of Defence and other customers. We are looking for talented individuals to join the company, in return we offer an exciting and challenging career path and excellent work/life balance with a 4 day week (Mon-Thurs) and flexible working arrangements.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Lockheed Martin is committed to upholding principles of equal opportunity, fostering a work environment that is aligned with our core values of integrity, respect, and exceptional performance. We recognize the importance of leveraging the unique talents and experiences of all our employees to drive innovation, deliver superior solutions, and maximize value for our customers. Our focus is on identifying the most qualified candidate for each role, regardless of their background. If you are interested in a position, we invite you to share how your skills and perspectives could bolster our team and encourage you to apply, even if you feel your qualifications do not fully meet all the job criteria outlined in our advertisement. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive for all individuals. We are prepared to accommodate reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed. If you require assistance or adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [email protected] or call 023 92 458 000.