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Job Details
Lead Buyer – Outsourced Engineering and Technical Services
R26430

Contract type

Full time

Discipline

Procurement and Supply Chain

Location

Stevenage

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00 Job Description

An opportunity has arisen for a procurement professional to join the UK Sites procurement team, within the MBDA Group Indirect procurement team.

Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 2-3 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

  • Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)

  • Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%

  • Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime

  • Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days

  • Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements

  • Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments

  • Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

The Opportunity

As a Lead Buyer you will focus on working closely with internal stakeholders to implement the Offload (Outsourced) Engineering Services strategy by understanding stakeholder requirements, translating these into detailed statements of work, and ensuring competitive sourcing from suppliers. The role will require active engagement with stakeholders based in Bristol and Stevenage.

  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand and gather business needs for outsourced engineering services. 

  • Align procurement activities with the overarching engineering services category strategy. 

  • Working with the Head of Offload UK, seek opportunities to implement fixed price contract models.

  • Work closely with technical teams and project managers to capture specific requirements. 

  • Draft clear, detailed, and precise SOWs that reflect business needs and performance outcomes. 

  • Manage competitive tendering processes, evaluate supplier bids, and lead supplier selection. 

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuous improvement and innovation. 

  • Monitor supplier performance, resolve issues, and identify opportunities for cost savings and process efficiencies. 

  • Ensure all procurement activities comply with company policies and legal requirements. 

  • Identify opportunities to enhance the sourcing process, including cost reduction, quality improvements, and process efficiency. 

  • Stay updated on market trends, new suppliers, and innovative solutions in engineering services.

The Team

  • The Indirect Procurement team is an excellent mixture of experienced and developing professionals located in UK, France and Italy.

  • Vision to be a business partner in MBDA and for our suppliers, pursuing ongoing value creation, optimal cost, sustainability and innovation.

  • Knowledgeable and enthusiastic, placing great value on sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas;

  • The team covers a broad range of topics, with a wide range of contracts ranging from short turnaround low value to strategically important service contacts.

  • Working with a wide range of stakeholders, based both in the UK and in the rest of the group, including the UK legal team.

  • The team successfully delivers the service levels and the cost optimisation required by the business within a supportive environment where team spirit is highly value.

What we're looking for from you:

  • Proven experience in procurement or category management, preferably within engineering services or technical services categories.  

  • Strong knowledge of the end-to-end procurement process, in particular with writing statements of work, applying different commercial models to suit requirements, and leading competitive tendering. 

  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence cross-functional teams, and translate high-level outline requirements into contract deliverables.

  • High attention to detail, with the ability to write clear and concise technical documents

  • Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

  • Knowledge of supplier management, contract negotiation, and risk mitigation.

  • Experience in working within a large engineering or technical organisation.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation.  We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.



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00 Benefits & Rewards

Annual Bonus

Annual Bonus

Every year in February, we reward our dedicated employees with an annual bonus. Exact amounts and percentages will vary by job grade and on business performance. This can be discussed/explained further with a member of the Resourcing team during your application process. 

We are proud to say that we were able to award our annual bonus to employees even through tough economic times in recent years, when other employers were less fortunate. 

 

25 Days Annual Leave (plus holiday purchase)

25 Days Annual Leave (plus holiday purchase)

Employees receive 25 days of paid annual leave per calendar year, in addition to all statutory and public holidays.

After 5, 10 and 15 years of service, an additional day of annual leave is added to your allowance at each of these milestones. 

You can also enjoy more time off by purchasing up to an additional five days holiday through payroll.

Dynamic Working

Dynamic Working

We trust our people to agree, within their teams, where and when they can be most effective. Our Dynamic Working policies allow individuals great levels of flexibility around the hours they work and where they work. Depending on your role and function, this may include options for paid overtime, dynamic leave (time in lieu) and more. 

When applying, please check the job advert for details, then make sure to discuss what to expect with your recruiter. 

 

VIDEO: What Dynamic Working Means to Me (click the image to open YouTube link)

Liz Dynamic Working video screenshot.png

Enhanced Parental Leave

Enhanced Parental Leave

We recognise that having or adopting a child is a significant life event for our employees and as a family friendly employer we offer a range of enhanced family leave provisions to support employees before, during and after a period of leave.

Our enhanced parental leave offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments.

We also offer 2 weeks enhanced pay for paternity leave, and neonatal care leave for up to 12 weeks where a period of extended hospital care is required after birth. Employees also have access to support whilst undergoing fertility testing and treatments. 

Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers

Lifestyle - Discounts & Vouchers

Discounts – The Discounts platform includes a great range of features such as: discounts, instant vouchers, reloadable cards, easy saver cards, cashback, mobile app and Wellbeing Centre.

 

Costco - Permanent employees of MBDA qualify for Costco’s individual membership.

 

Technology Vouchers – Purchase the latest gadgets and white goods up to the value of £2,500 and spread the cost over 12 months.

 

Charity Donations - Donate up to five charities each month, with full tax relief on all donations.

 

MyCar Scheme – The MBDA MyCar Scheme offers employees the opportunity to access up to two new vehicles via a salary sacrifice arrangement including an all-inclusive package.

 

Holiday Purchase – Purchase up to 5 days' extra holiday whilst making tax and National Insurance savings, spreading the cost over 12 months.

 

Gyms & Social Clubs

Gyms & Social Clubs

Healthworks Gym Membership - The Healthworks on-site gym at our Stevenage site offers a range of facilities and equipment, alongside a variety of classes available during the week.

 

Annual Gym Membership – Take advantage of discounted membership at over 3,600 of the UK's leading gym chains, leisure centres, hotel health clubs, independent gyms, boot camps and yoga studios.

 

The Club –The Club provides a fantastic opportunity to enjoy great social activities - from theatre trips, days out, to sporting activities.

Pension & Finance

Pension & Finance

Our MBDA Retirement Savings Plan is a 'Defined Contribution' plan in the Mercer Master Trust, administered by Scottish Widows. The standard contributions are 4% of an employee's base salary and 6% employer contributions. You can increase both employee and employer contributions by up to 2%.

 

Financial Awareness – Employees have access to free financial webinars hosted throughout the year, along with access to a financial education website which provides plenty of useful hints, tips and guidance on managing financial wellness.

 

Share Incentive Plan - Acquire shares in our UK Shareholder, BAE Systems PLC, the scheme is tax efficient on shares purchased.

 

Mortgage Advice – As part of our financial wellbeing initiative employees can access free of charge mortgage advice and webinars.

 

Season Ticket Loan – Employees can borrow the value of public transport season ticket for bus or train journeys to and from work and spread the cost over 12 months.

 

Critical Illness – To help reduce the financial impact after being diagnosed with a critical illness, employees receive a tax-free lump sum payment that can be used for any purpose including covering medical expenses, adjustments to lifestyle and more.

Share Incentive Plan

Share Incentive Plan

The Share Incentive Plan (SIP) is available for you to join and reinforces our commitment to long-term share ownership amongst our employees.

Free Financial Advice

Free Financial Advice

We know money matters in life, so we want to make sure our employees are both paid what they deserve, and also have access to resources that can help them plan for the future.

Through selected partnerships, we offer a range of free seminars, held throughout the year, to help you make good financial decisions for now and the future.

Extracurricular Learning Budget

Extracurricular Learning Budget

You can receive up to £150 towards the cost of approved courses each year including group language lessons.

Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme - The Employee Assistance Programme is free, independent, confidential and is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year. Employees have access to short-term counselling (which includes up to 8 structured face to face, telephone or virtual sessions).

 

Voluntary Private Medical Insurance – Private Medical Insurance offers three healthcare plans to suit your individual requirements for you and your family.

 

Funded Private Medical Insurance - Eligible employees (Grade C & Above) are enrolled as standard into the company funded Private Medical Insurance benefit.

 

Dental Insurance – The Dental Insurance benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday dental expenses such as, minor treatments, routine examinations, restorative treatment and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits.

 

Healthcare Cash Plan - The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more. There are six levels of cover available, with each level providing increased claim limits.

 

Healthcare and Leisure – The Healthcare and Leisure benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as medical fees, dentist fees, opticians and also provides access to special deals and concessions on sporting and recreational facilities.

 

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Assistance Programme

Our employees' wellbeing is our priority. That's why everyone at MBDA UK can access free, confidential advice on a range of financial, personal and workplace issues, available 24/7.

00 Information

Training and Development

Development of our people is of vital importance to us at MBDA, which is why we ensure everyone has access to the teams, tools and resources needed to achieve their goals. This includes our dedicated in-house Learning & Development team, our Apprenticeship programmes, a variety of online learning platforms, and much more.

We encourage new learning and will provide up to £150 in financial support per year if you wish to participate in further study in your own time.

If you lead a team, or hope to do so in the future, we offer a range of management training opportunities, with paths designed for people of all experience levels. 

Dynamic Working

We want our people to work when and where they feel they can be most effective. For most of our employees, we have a flexi-time scheme that allows you to choose, within certain parameters, when you start and finish each day and how you can use time you have accrued.

For roles that do not have to be based on one of our sites full-time, you will have opportunities to work from home as part of your agreed Dynamic Working arrangement.

If you have worked the time, you are also able to accrue and take up to 15 days of Flexi-leave per annum, in addition to the 25 days of annual leave provided and bank holidays.

Security Clearance

All employees at MBDA are required to hold UK Security or BPSS Clearance. 

For further information, please view our Security & Vetting page.

Awards

    

We're proud to be a nationally recognised employer at MBDA. We have received a range of employer awards including Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2022; Gold awards from Investors in People, the 5% Club, and Armed Forces Covenant. We are also currently ranked #1 in the UK's Best Big Companies to Work For 2022 league table, as well as #1 for Manufacturing.

Check out our blog ("Our Stories") for the latest MBDA news and awards.

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00 Apply for this role

Lead Buyer – Outsourced Engineering and Technical Services R26430

Contract type

Full time

We have detected you are using an IP outside of the UK

Before continuing your application, please note that as a defence industry employer, restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work will apply.

If you do not meet the necessary requirements, any application you submit will be rejected.

We only recommend continuing your application if you are confident of your right to work for us.

Please refer to our Security & Vetting policy for further information.