Supplier Development Lead

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Join GKN Aerospace as a Senior Buyer - Make a Global Impact from the UK!

GKN Aerospace is on the lookout for a Senior Buyer based in the UK to play a pivotal role in supporting our Phoenix, Arizona operation by working directly with UK and European suppliers.

While GKN Phoenix drives a complex global supply chain with substantial annual spend across the UK and Europe. With recent OEM growth, the need for stronger supplier oversight, faster issue resolution, and proactive performance management has never been greater.

This newly created role offers a unique opportunity to lead procurement operations closer to our supplier base, enhancing delivery, quality, and responsiveness through regular on-site engagement. If you’re ready to make a tangible impact on a global stage and take ownership of supplier relationships that drive excellence, this is your chance.

How you'll contribute:

• Own operational procurement and supplier performance for assigned suppliers supporting the Phoenix site
• Act as the primary supplier interface, maintaining regular on-site presence and follow-up
• Manage purchase orders, schedules, reschedules and commercial changes in line with MRP and production demand
• Challenge suppliers constructively on delivery, responsiveness and execution
• Lead supplier recovery and corrective action activities for delivery, quality and commercial issues
• Support parts transfers, changes, and industrialization through First Article Inspection (FAI) to production
• Partner closely with procurement, quality, engineering and operations teams across regions
• Provide clear, fact-based communication on supplier risk, performance and improvement progres

What makes this role different

• High level of supplier interaction with clear ownership and accountability
• Regular travel to supplier sites to drive performance and improvement first-hand
• Direct impact on bottom line results through delivery stability, premium freight reduction and supplier capability

This is an rare opportunity to take on a senior, hands-on procurement role with real scope and influence. You’ll work closely with suppliers, have direct impact on operational performance and play a key role in supporting a fast-growing aerospace programme.

What You'll Bring:

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

Essential

• Proven experience in procurement, operational, commercial and or supply chain roles (typically 5+ years)
• Experience working with a global supply chain
• Strong understanding of MRP-driven manufacturing environments
• Confidence challenging suppliers and driving corrective action
• Comfortable working across time zones with international stakeholders
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%

Desirable

• Aerospace or other regulated manufacturing experience
• MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification
• Experience supporting supplier performance improvement or development initiatives
• Strong commercial and negotiation capability
• Ability to interpret drawings and specifications

Onboarding & travel

• Initial onboarding in the UK, followed by 2-3 weeks in Phoenix, Arizona for on-the-job integration
• Ongoing travel to UK/EU suppliers and periodic travel to Phoenix
• International travel is required; a valid passport is essential
• All business travel expenses are covered by the company

What we Offer:

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.