Commodity Purchasing Lead

Job Title: Commodity Purchasing Lead

Reports to (title): Head of Procurement

Date: July 2026

Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Lead the Commodity Purchasing team to develop and execute sourcing strategies that ensure the supply of materials, components and plant tool/fixtures required to support new product introduction and series production. The role is responsible for achieving competitive total cost, excellent supplier performance, robust supply chain resilience and supporting the company's growth strategy through effective supplier partnerships and cross-functional collaboration. The Commodity Lead will manage the workload of the team and will need to adequately resource XP/Experiment /Prototype phases as well as Sourcing for Production and production support.

Key responsibilities will include: Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop the Commodity Purchasing team.
• Set objectives and priorities aligned with business strategy.
• Drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Develop succession plans and capability within the team.

Commodity Strategy

Develop and implement long-term sourcing strategies for assigned commodities by considering:

• market trends
• technology developments
• geopolitical risks
• sustainability
• capacity planning
• supplier footprint
• cost competitiveness
• Review strategies annually and update when market conditions change.

Supplier Management

Lead strategic supplier relationships by:

• conducting executive business reviews
• monitoring supplier performance
• driving supplier development
• identifying new suppliers
• managing supplier exits where appropriate
• supporting long-term partnership agreements

Strategic Sourcing

Lead sourcing activities including:

• RFQs
• supplier selection
• commercial negotiations
• sourcing council preparation
• nomination recommendations
• contract negotiations

Ensure sourcing decisions consider:

• total cost of ownership
• quality
• delivery
• technical capability
• sustainability
• risk
• innovation

Cost Management

• Deliver annual targets for:
• PPV
• cost reduction

Lead negotiations covering:

• inflation
• indexation
• raw materials
• logistics
• currency exposure

Programme Support

Support New Product Introduction through:

• supplier selection
• sourcing timing
• commercial readiness
• capacity validation
• APQP timing
• PPAP readiness
• launch support
• Ensure supplier readiness before SOP.

Supplier Performance

Monitor and improve:

• delivery performance
• quality
• responsiveness
• capacity
• financial health

Work closely with Supplier Quality to resolve major supplier issues.

Supply Chain Risk

• Identify and mitigate risks relating to:
• geopolitical events
• financial stability
• single source exposure
• capacity
• logistics
• export controls
• raw material availability
• Develop mitigation plans and report key risks to senior leadership.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with:
• Engineering
• Supplier Quality
• Manufacturing
• Programme Management
• Finance
• Logistics
• Legal
• Support cross-functional decision making.

Governance

Ensure compliance with:

• Procurement Policy
• sourcing governance
• contract approval processes
• ethical sourcing
• sustainability requirements
• CBAM
• Responsible sourcing requirements

Skills and experience required:

Essential

• Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business or equivalent.
• Significant experience in strategic procurement within manufacturing or automotive.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills.
• Experience of supplier relationship management.
• Strong analytical capability.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction.
• Excellent stakeholder management.
• Experience in team management

Desirable

• Automotive experience.
• APQP and PPAP knowledge.
• Supplier Quality awareness.
• Lean Manufacturing knowledge.
• CIPS qualification. xwzovoh
• Experience in high-growth manufacturing environments.

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Commercial Acumen
• Leadership
• Influencing
• Negotiation
• Decision Making
• Customer Focus
• Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement
• Results Orientation
• Resilience
• Integrity

Hybrid working between two sites Yarnton/Bicester Motion