Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Location: Belfast  

Term: Permanent

We’re looking for a Tactical Buyer to support our Integrated Airspace-protection Systems business unit (IAS) in Belfast. This is an exciting opportunity with responsibility for ensuring that the materials Thales procures are of the required specification, giving consideration to quality, delivery, price and other contractual conditions.

As a Tactical Buyer you will be responsible for a personal purchasing budget of up to £1M equating to the management of approximately 400 purchase parts and will have authority to negotiate and approve individual Purchase Orders (PO) and sub-contracts up to £15,000. You will be required to support the negotiation, financial and contractual control of purchases and the implementation of the systems and processes required to successfully manage them.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced manufacturing buyer with working knowledge of ERP systems and demonstrable experience of influencing and negotiating.

Key responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Generate and issue Purchase Orders (POs) utilising the Thales ERP and procurement systems
• Sign and approve purchase orders within Delegation of Authority Limits
• Coordinate all invoice and account queries relating to purchase orders to assist the orderly flow of cash
• Negotiate purchase pricing and terms and conditions
• Support the assessment and appraisal of new and existing suppliers
• Work with wider global Thales Procurement community to ensure the best Procurement solution is found for material requirements.  
• Issue ‘Request for Quotations’ (RFQs) in support of Programme and Bid requirements
• Interface with relevant internal functions and stakeholders to ensure requirements are met.
• Determine and manage the export control status of incoming material
• Support the preparation and management of business reviews with relevant suppliers
• Capture, develop and improve supplier performance
• Comply with Thales processes within the procurement function

Technical Skills and Experience:

• Experience in a Manufacturing Buyer role or other relevant purchasing experience
• Experience of using an ERP system
• General commercial knowledge
• Knowledge of Microsoft packages including Outlook, Word and Excel is essential
• Ability to demonstrate influencing and negotiation skills and be able to communicate effectively across all levels of the business
• MCIPS or equivalent qualifications is desirable but a commitment to work towards MCIPs is essential

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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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