Program Buyer RLE International is working on behalf of their Essex based Automotive Client, who are currently looking for a Program Buyer to support and join their expanding team. Our client offers a wide range of unique opportunities available to suit some of the best people and brightest minds in the automotive industry. They are positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe, and they need your help to get there. Position Description: Rate: £26.75 per hour via UMBRELLA PAYE rising to £32.32 after 12 weeks due to AWR Program Buyer Overview: The buyer serves as an overall point of view owner for purchasing on programs and a key purchasing point of contact to the Vehicle Program Team and Commodity Purchasing during development and management of Commercial Vehicle products Key Responsibilities: Review program assumptions to identify changes which may impact suppliers Provide purchasing input during early program gateways to aid target development and purchasing strategy development Be the voice of purchasing in program meetings Update key systems and tools with status and completion dates and to ensure cross functional alignment with Program Management/PD/Finance Key activities include achieving alignment on supplier selection and sourcing to meet Supplier Engineering On-Board Dates (SEOBD), achieving program financial and timing targets, identifying and facilitating scale leverage, low cost sourcing and localisation opportunities Attend Sourcing, Timing and Tooling Program Activity Team meetings and provide updates on open/pending items Skills Required: * Coordinate alignment with cross functional team, including the Joint Venture partner * Understand Costs status vs target for a group of commodities. * Report out status, drive cost reduction workstreams and report out on progress. * Work with MP&L to confirm optimal packaging assumptions for parts to all required locations * Track open Purchase or Tool Order status and report to affected buyers as needed. * Support and provide data (where necessary) for cross functional Program Steering meetings, ad-hoc studies and other assignments. * Update senior management on program status during established cadence of program review meetings. * Support development of global/regional commodity/technology sourcing strategies for any future models. * Deliver Commercial Vehicle pre- capacity studies, interfacing with MP&L, M&S, PD, Finance and Program Management * Analyse supplier responses and develop supply base supportability plans to achieve the required volume. * Deliver on-time supplier investment kick off for all capacity studies using the Capacity Program Action Team process. * Deliver investment for capital, tooling and packaging that does not exceed program budget. * Track supplier industrialisation to ensure on-time PPAP. * Strong business and commercial acumen and excellent written and verbal abilities * Demonstrable understanding of current challenges facing the automotive industry and the role of purchasing to support the business * Ability to interrogate costs/quotes, use a variety of data sources to establish a point of view of competitive pricing * Outstanding interpersonal skills including relationship building * Experience of working in cross functional teams * Excellent numerical and analytical data skills * Process driven, able to produce high quality and accurate work * Ability to problem solve and be comfortable working with constantly changing data and parameters * Fully competent with Microsoft Office Tools * An ability to present competently * An ability to travel on company business as required * Strong organizational and project management skills; self-starter Experience Required: Strong experience required within or close to a Purchasing setting, preferably automotive. Project management experience Education Required: Degree qualified or equivalent experience required Additional Information: Possible Travel to Turkey Location: Dunton/Hybrid 3 days on site INSIDE IR35 *Please note: Due to the high level of applicants, only successful candidates will be contacted* Eligibility: Due to working on behalf of our Client, unfortunately if you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK your application will be automatically declined **NO AGENCY CALLING