Background
No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.
It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.
McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.
Purpose of Role
McLaren Automotive is a commercially driven environment, with particular emphasis on direct & indirect material spend, and close cost management.
You will be chiefly responsible for direct material cost performance, driving a wide range of cost reduction initiatives across the Procurement department, whilst seeking to manage and mitigate Supplier cost risks & increases.
The role will also require close cross-functional working with matched pairs in Engineering and Finance, exploiting multiple levers to deliver our Business Plan cost targets.
Principal Accountabilities
- You will be responsible for driving and delivering cost reduction across the complete direct bill of material (BoM), utilising a wide range of tools, techniques & levers. Similarly, you will own the internal cost risk process, working across the Procurement team to mitigate and avoid cost increases. In both instances, you will be responsible for effective internal governance, ranging from weekly reviews, monthly Executive exposure, and annual cost reduction events.
- Reporting directly to the Head of Procurement for Transformation & Strategy.
- Utilising existing ideas & the current cost down roadmap, drive cost reduction delivery across all direct Procurement function groups in line with team & business plan targets.
- Identifying new cost reduction ideas and opportunities, both commercial and technical, whilst quickly assessing feasibility, business cases and ease of implementation.
- Maintaining an internal environment that fosters creativity and promotes a cost reduction mindset. Coaching buyers to maximise levers, whilst work with the Management & Leadership teams of strategic cost reduction planning and medium-long term initiatives.
- Coordinating and leading strategic cost reduction activities and initiatives, using data and best Procurement practices to develop targeted and thorough approaches.
- Managing and owning the internal cost reduction governance and steering, ensuring daily drumbeat for delivery, weekly Executive reporting, quarterly Customer Facing Review’s with the Executive team, and the annual, company-wide, Gap Week.
- Seeking to influence category strategy and future programme technical & sourcing decisions, considering TVM lessons learned and the pursuit of early, pre-SOP cost optimisation.
- Coordinating Procurement inputs into the annual business plans, developing cost reduction targets by Programme and Function group, as well as collating all known and forecast cost risks, ensuring suitable provisions are made.
- Internal management and coordination of all cost risks. Working with the Procurement team to mitigate and avoid said risks.
- Promotion and utilisation of cost management toolkit (cost reduction & mitigation tools and techniques), as well as conducting localised training.
- Cost management ownership, including working with Finance business partners to provide net performance insights by programme, team, supplier etc, as well as central cost data governance.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Comprehensive experience within the Automotive industry (OEM preferred).
- Significant experience in Procurement & Supply chain management, with extensive commodity & supplier management.
- Highly adept at complex negotiations, specifically commercial & contractual.
- Acute understanding of a wide range of component manufacturing process and associated cost drivers.
- Sharp understanding of market & supply chain trends and movements, as well as of market & manufacturing indices.
- Astute in supply chain business operations and cost structuring.
- Proven track record of cost reduction delivery, and cost risk mitigation.
- Strong understanding of Automotive OEM operations (internal & external), challenges posed and solutions to overcome.
- Experience in running cost reduction programmes, initiatives, and events.
- Bachelors or Master’s degree in Business / Economics (or equivalent), or likewise within Procurement & Supply chain management.
- CIPS qualification preferable but not essential.
Personal Attributes
- Self-starting & motivated.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify opportunities & levers.
- Highly commercially and contractually astute.
- Inquisitive mindset.
- Highly analytical.
- Highly driven, resilient, and hard-working.
- Ability to influence at multiple levels within the organisation.
- Ability to quickly develop relationships and build trust.
- Ability to problem solve and quickly identify solutions.
- Ability to captivate and motivate internal teams to deliver.
- Takes things personally, makes things happen and demands the best from themselves and people around them.
- Has the ability to think strategically, but also high operational competency.