After more than 60 years away from Formula One, Aston Martin is back on the grid for 2021. Based in Northamptonshire, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team has almost 500 passionate people at its heart, making a team with both a rich heritage and a fresh perspective – bringing new energy to the sport with a determination to shake up the order and compete at the sharp end.
The Aston Martin era represents the beginning of a new journey for us, but the racer’s attitude and can-do approach remain central pillars in the team’s philosophy. The focus is always on improving performance and delivering results. With fresh investment and energy, the stage is set to build on Aston Martin’s rich history in motorsport and establish Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team as a competitive force in the years ahead.
To succeed on this mission, the team is looking for talented individuals who share our passion for racing and hunger for competition. It’s a stimulating and rewarding place to work, with pure racing at the core of everything we do. We are building for a strong future and every member of the team will play an important role in our success.
We are a brave and united team who value authenticity, honesty, and are never afraid to question conventions. We embrace these values in ways that reflect our modern world. If you share our racer’s spirit and want to contribute to the next chapter in Aston Martin’s glorious history, please apply and join one of the most exciting projects in Formula One.
We have a new opportunity to be part of the team in the role of Indirect Buyer.
Purpose of the Role:
Procure a variety of indirect goods, materials and services in accordance with the Procurement Policy to deliver outstanding results for internal customers taking a true balance of quality, price and delivery, to ensure that the companies operational needs are met by managing and supporting the supply chain.
Scope of Role:
- Reporting directly to the Head of Procurement.
- Working within the procurement team to deliver the cost effective and timely procurement of indirect goods and services to support the company.
- (Indirect being, IT, Travel, Capital, MRO, Facilities, HR, Marketing)
- Delivering improvements to the complete procurement process working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the company, to ensure that requirements and strategic objectives are being met.
- Purchase goods, materials, components or services in line with specified cost, quality and delivery targets
- Prepare and raise purchase orders and order schedules
- Negotiate contracts, improve prices and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilising negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods
- Good knowledge of purchasing, negotiation, commercial understanding and cost breakdown
- Ensure compliance to company guidelines, purchasing policies and procedures during supplier negotiations and contracts award process.
- Build relationships with suppliers and negotiate with them for the best pricing.
- Analyze market trends and apply this knowledge to make insightful buying decisions.
- Monitor market trends, competitor strategies and market suppliers
- Performs comparison of quotes and negotiations to secure lower prices on the company needs
- Development of the supply chain, focusing on reducing lead-time, increasing agility and delivery performance and ensuring all specifications and quality standards are met.
- Work closely with others in the procurement function review of continuous improvement of processes and administrative functions to ensure a streamlined and efficient way of working. Constantly looks for ways to reduce the company's expenditure where possible
- Act as an interface between suppliers and other relevant departments on purchasing processes and new projects and activities, Interaction and communication with all of the key stakeholders.
- Keeps up to date on the company's needs in order-to-order supplies when they are necessary
- Performs comparison of quotes and negotiations to secure lower prices on the company needs
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Degree qualified in a related discipline or equivalent experience and or professional training of (CIPS) would be a beneficial but not essential.
· Computer literate, with advanced Excel skills/abilities
- Experience and understanding of the commercial aspects of low volume small batch manufacture
- Knowledge of purchasing best-practice and continuous improvements techniques
- Proven ability to independently lead negotiations and support in the development of strategies for large and complex projects.
- Strong leadership qualities, gravitas, influencing and interpersonal skills. Will be able to constructively challenge and persuasively communicate at all levels internally and externally.
- Motorsport or high precision engineering industry experience would be a distinct advantage.
- Familiarity with an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system would be beneficial
- Experience of working closely with suppliers
- Able to add value, reduce costs and input to business improvements
- Able to build and maintain effective and productive relationships with staff, stakeholders and suppliers
- Good communication, negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills
- Analytical, numerically astute with strong demonstrated problem-solving abilities
- Able to manage time effectively, prioritise tasks and achieve set targets
- Commercial and financial awareness with a full understanding of how failure impacts the production, manufacture and customer order fulfilment
Personal Attributes:
- The candidate must be motivated, organized, with a high attention to detail, professional and capable of communicating at all levels, internally and externally.
- The role requires that the candidate must be responsible, calm, focussed and motivated, whilst demonstrating a proactive, organised, and flexible approach to changing priorities.
- Ability to independently prioritise a demanding workload, and overcome obstacles or problems unassisted should they arise, managing stakeholders’ expectations accordingly.
- Will be able to recognise when further assistance is required in order to resolve those more challenging situations as and when they arise.
- Capability to lead and influence within a dynamic organisation.
- Able to act under pressure with calmness, clarity of thought and decisive authority.
- A flexible approach to working hours and practices is necessary
- Operates as a key member of a procurement team
- Keen attention to detail and accuracy
Aston Martin Formula One Team is committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the most talented individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation. We strive to be a Team that reflects all the communities with which we engage around the world through diversity in the workplace and promoting an inclusive culture in which all team members are respected, empowered and valued.