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.
With innovation at the core of all we do, every challenge starts with the same question. How can we do it better? This restless spirit runs right through McLaren Automotive. And the search for perfection is evident in everything we do.
Purpose of Role
Reporting to the Principal Prototype Build Engineer, this is an exciting and unique opportunity to join McLaren Automotive’ s Prototype Build team within Vehicle Development.
Whilst in the heart of this exclusive automotive environment, the candidate will contribute to the team’s on-going success through leading the supply chain and interacting with a wide range of cross-functional, high-performing teams.
Principal Accountabilities
- Lead the procurement of low volume prototype components and tooling
- Support a lean approach to achieve key purchasing objectives
- Engage with Engineering so that you are a key decision-maker and able to exert influence
- Setting of clear objectives and monitor performance of your suppliers and other functions within the organisation
- Build relationships and long term development plans with suppliers based upon common goals and objectives
- Provide leadership and guidance in the more complex commercial and contractual relationships with an understanding of legal contracts
- Develop a culture of continuous improvement throughout the business
- Technical awareness of materials and manufacturing process with multi-material exposure
- Accountability for cost and budget management for high-value projects (£1m+), of which can be spread across multiple builds
- Ensure supplier requirements and concerns are fully understood and ensure these are fed back during the appropriate stages to the relevant stakeholders.
- Provide strong and robust commercial leadership, working within your own functional area as well as the wider business.
- Development of the teams’ capabilities to drive sound judgement in engineering, quality, and logistic environments.
- Work cross-functionally with all departments to encourage quality principles and commercial acumen into every aspect of our business
- Being able to understand complex concepts (technical and commercial) and being able to present the information in a simplified manner; such that key decisions can be made quickly and objectively
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Degree qualified in a related discipline or equivalent experience with professional training
- Ability to lead negotiations and support teams in the creation of strategies for large and complex projects
- Proven experience working across multiple commodities
- Technical engineering knowledge with the ability to understand complex engineering drawings
- Strong leadership qualities and excellent influencing and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrable commercial success within an Automotive/Motorsport environment
- Excellent organisational skills, deadline adherence and exceptional attention to accuracy and detail.
- Willingness to create / lead and energise a team to deliver superior results and continuous process improvement.
- Able to act under pressure with calmness, clarity of thought and decisive authority.
- Must be capable of lateral thinking and be able to make structured and objective decisions.
- Able to demonstrate a methodical approach towards problem solving.
- A high level of self-motivation to overcome obstacles
- Results driven and the ability to deliver against aggressive targets to achieve the overall team objectives
- Experience in operating CAD based systems for part review, preferably CATIA
- Excellent IT skills and at ease with MS Office products.
- Experience using SAP would be advantageous but not essential
- A flexible approach to working hours
- Ability to play a lead role in contract implementation and management
- Good working knowledge of quality processes
- Proven supply chain management and procurement experience, dealing with both small and large value organisations
- CIPS qualified would be advantageous but not essential
Personal Attributes
- Strong communicator / influencer
- Strong negotiation skills
- Proactive mindset
- Capability to lead and influence within a dynamic organisation
- Results driven
- Enthusiastic and with a high level of self-motivation to overcome obstacles
- Excellent written and presentational skills