Hours of Work: Monday - Friday, 7am - 3.30pm (40 hours per week)
Electra Commercial Vehicles Ltd is a UK manufacturer of battery-electric commercial vehicles, developing and supplying zero-emission vehicles for the UK and international markets.
We are seeking an experienced Buyer to join our growing team and take responsibility for the procurement of vehicle components, production materials, services and other goods required to support vehicle manufacture and business operations.
The successful candidate will work closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, Finance, Logistics and Sales to ensure that the right materials and components are available on time, at the right quality and at the right cost.
This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded procurement professional to join a fast-growing automotive business and play an important role in developing Electra’s supply chain.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement & Purchasing
· Manage the day-to-day purchasing of components, materials, consumables, equipment and services.
· Raise and manage purchase orders in accordance with company procedures.
· Obtain and evaluate quotations from existing and prospective suppliers.
· Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities and other commercial conditions.
· Ensure purchasing decisions achieve the best overall value for Electra.
· Monitor open purchase orders and proactively manage delivery dates.
· Identify and resolve shortages, late deliveries and supply issues before they impact production.
· Maintain accurate purchasing records within the company’s ERP/procurement systems.
Supplier Management
· Develop effective working relationships with suppliers in the UK and overseas.
· Support the identification, evaluation and onboarding of new suppliers.
· Monitor supplier performance against cost, quality and delivery requirements.
· Work with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier quality issues.
· Support supplier improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.
· Maintain appropriate supplier documentation, including quotations, specifications and commercial agreements.
· Assist with supplier audits and performance reviews where required.
Production & Materials Planning
· Work closely with Production and Operations to understand current and future material requirements.
· Ensure components are ordered sufficiently in advance to meet production schedules.
· Monitor stock levels and identify potential shortages or excess inventory.
· Support inventory optimisation while maintaining appropriate levels of production-critical components.
· Coordinate with Logistics on inbound deliveries and overseas shipments.
· Highlight long-lead-time and single-source components and develop appropriate purchasing strategies.
Engineering & New Product Introduction
· Work closely with Engineering on the sourcing of new vehicle components and materials.
· Obtain supplier quotations against engineering drawings, specifications and bills of materials.
· Support Design and Engineering teams in identifying cost-effective alternative components and suppliers.
· Participate in new product introduction and engineering change processes.
· Ensure purchasing information reflects the latest approved specifications and revisions.
· Support localisation and UK/EU sourcing opportunities where commercially and technically appropriate.
Commercial & Cost Management
· Maintain and develop pricing information for purchased components.
· Track supplier price changes and challenge cost increases.
· Identify opportunities for cost reduction through negotiation, alternative suppliers, specification review and volume consolidation.
· Support annual purchasing budgets and cost forecasts.
· Provide procurement cost information to Finance and senior management.
· Assist with should-cost analysis and cost benchmarking for key components.
Key Performance Indicators
The Buyer will be measured against a range of operational and commercial KPIs, including:
· On-time delivery of purchased components.
· Purchase price variance and procurement savings.
· Supplier quality performance.
· Production interruptions caused by material shortages.
· Purchase order accuracy and timeliness.
· Inventory levels and inventory turns.
· Supplier lead-time performance.
· Percentage of spend covered by agreed supplier terms and contracts.
· Development of alternative and dual-source suppliers.
· Timely resolution of supplier issues.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential
· Proven experience in a purchasing/buying role, ideally within automotive, manufacturing, engineering or a similarly complex supply-chain environment.
· Experience negotiating with suppliers and obtaining competitive quotations.
· Strong understanding of purchasing processes and supplier management.
· Experience working with ERP/MRP or purchasing systems.
· Strong commercial awareness and numerical ability.
· Good understanding of lead times, stock management and production requirements.
· Excellent communication and organisational skills.
· Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
· Strong attention to detail.
Desirable
· Experience in automotive or commercial vehicle manufacturing.
· Experience purchasing electrical, electronic, mechanical or fabricated components.
· Experience purchasing batteries, driveline components, vehicle systems or other EV-related components.
· Experience working with international suppliers, particularly suppliers in Europe and/or China.
· Experience with Bills of Materials (BOMs), engineering drawings and technical specifications.
· CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement experience.
· Experience with supplier quality and PPAP/APQP processes.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
· Commercially driven – focused on achieving the best combination of cost, quality and delivery.
· Proactive – identifies potential supply problems before they affect production.
· Analytical – able to evaluate quotations, costs, stock and supplier performance.
· Organised – capable of managing multiple suppliers and purchasing priorities simultaneously.
· Tenacious – comfortable challenging suppliers and negotiating improved commercial terms.
· Collaborative – works effectively with Engineering, Production, Quality, Finance and Logistics.
· Pragmatic – able to make effective decisions in a rapidly developing manufacturing environment.
· Detail-focused – understands the importance of accurate specifications, quantities, prices and delivery dates.
· Entrepreneurial – comfortable working in a growing business where processes are continually being developed and improved.
Role Scope
The role will cover procurement across Electra’s vehicle manufacturing and wider business requirements, including:
· Vehicle components
· Electrical and electronic components
· EV and battery-related systems
· Mechanical components
· Fabricated and machined parts
· Vehicle body and chassis components
· Consumables and production materials
· Workshop and manufacturing equipment
· Packaging
· Logistics and associated services
· General business procurement as required
Development Opportunity
As Electra continues to expand vehicle production and develop its supply chain, there is significant scope for the Buyer to develop into a broader Senior Buyer, Procurement Manager or Supply Chain Manager role.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help establish robust procurement processes, develop strategic supplier relationships and contribute directly to the growth and competitiveness of the Electra vehicle programme.
What Electra Offers
· The opportunity to join an innovative UK commercial vehicle manufacturer.
· A key role within a growing electric vehicle business.
· Exposure to automotive engineering, manufacturing and international supply chains.
· The opportunity to make a measurable commercial impact.
· A dynamic and entrepreneurial working environment.
· Career development as the company and procurement function grow.
Benefits
Free on-site parking, Annual leave plus bank holidays, Company Pension, Paid birthday leave, 1 day paid volunteering day, GP24, Referral scheme, Eye care vouchers.
Pay: £30,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
