Job Title
Procurement Manager - Interiors
Ref #
59032
Date posted
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Woking
Business area
Procurement
Department
Commodity Procurement
Position level
4 - Management / Technical Expert (L-18)
Working time
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Working pattern
9am - 6pm Monday to Friday
What to Expect
Reporting to the Head of Department (HoD) Commodity Procurement, the Commodity Manager will have responsibility for the successful development and deployment of Category Strategies for their team’s commodity areas. With a team of buyers and senior buyers reporting to them, the Commodity Manager will have strategic responsibility for multi-million £’s of direct material spend per annum with McLaren’s suppliers and will drive best in class strategies across the whole team (with an annual spend of over.£80m).

 
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
The Commodity Manager will have responsibility for leading and mentoring their team members and, utilising their experience, demonstrating ‘what good looks like’ for Category Strategies and Supplier Relationship Management. They will be a role model within Procurement in terms of Procurement professionalism and the right behaviours.
They will set the strategic direction of future supplier sourcing for McLaren vehicles for the commodities & suppliers within their commodity area and effectively direct their supplier relationships, in order to ensure access to the best technology at the lowest achievable ‘total cost’, whilst ensuring at all times that any possible risk to McLaren is minimised. 
What You'll Do
The Commodity Manager is accountable for the following key activities:
Lead and mentor their team in a manner that develops their people, achieves the most from them and delivers on their key objectives, including assisting them with the development of best in class Category Strategies;
In developing Category Strategies, the Commodity Manager shall ensure close cooperation with Engineering to incorporate Technology Roadmaps and shall demonstrate expertise regarding their suppliers’ and the wider industry’s current and future technological advances;
Deliver the creation and subsequent updating of Category Strategies, fully aligned with Technology Roadmaps, to ensure McLaren has clarity regarding the best possible selection of suppliers to meet our future product plans, technology, sourcing and cost requirements;
Fully utilise the strategic understanding of their supplier base to deliver the best possible Total Cost for McLaren. This includes negotiating new programme sourcing, driving continuous cost reduction through process improvement & new technologies, as well as delivering appropriate low cost sourcing strategies, whilst protecting McLaren from risk.
Be a role model for other team members, such that they aspire to develop into the Commodity Manager position in the future, and so that their professional behaviours are replicated by other team members (i.e. ‘show what good looks like’);
Be a subject matter expert regarding the suppliers, competitors and industry landscape within their commodity area, fully conversant with the manufacturing processes, cost drivers and current, as well as future, technology;
Demonstrate that Procurement is a key business partner that brings real added value when interacting with other departments, so that other functions want to engage Procurement’s expertise;
Prepare and deliver, with the HoD, the annual plans for cost reduction (including minimising any supplier claims) for their Commodity area, to ensure the committed improvements in direct material cost are delivered in line with the business plan. Work collaboratively with the Vehicle Line and Engineering Functional Leadership teams to ensure their teams support and deliver on their cost down objectives too;
Understanding and interrogating supplier Quotation Analysis Forms (QAF’s), in order to deliver the best possible total cost for McLaren;
Own the relationships with our key suppliers, including leading the Supplier Relationship Management process, to ensure McLaren is a ‘customer of choice’ and treated as such by its suppliers;
Demonstrate best practice in the application of Supplier Relationship Management and mentor other team members so they achieve the same standard;
Build strong relationships with their opposite numbers(s) within Engineering to ensure robust cross functional cooperation, in order to deliver aligned strategies and ‘one voice’ to the McLaren supplier base, in turn delivering the best cost and technology solutions;
Deputise for the Head of Department, Commodity Procurement and lead key meetings, where appropriate;
Leverage robust supplier relationships to deliver the best outcome for McLaren in critical supplier negotiations;
Lead contract negotiations with suppliers and work closely with the McLaren legal team to ensure that McLaren achieves the best possible commercial position and is protected from risk;
Manage all Commodity Procurement activities for their suppliers and work with the Programme Procurement team to provide up to date Category Strategies and necessary support for new programmes, including leading contract and price negotiations with selected suppliers;
Deliver all Procurement actions for their suppliers in line with the Procurement Strategic Plan;
Fully accountable for all aspects the relationship with their supplier base, including effective resolution of critical supply issues. 
What You'll Bring
Business Knowledge
Comprehensive knowledge of the complete supply chain within Automotive, Manufacturing or similar businesses;
An excellent understanding of Procurement processes, systems and best practice, ideally within both McLaren and at another Automotive OEM, or similar: a Procurement professional;
A full understanding of the ‘partner’ functions that Procurement must work with and influence, in order to deliver Procurement’s strategic objectives;
An understanding of McLaren processes, systems, and procedures would be beneficial.

Essential Functional / Technical Skills
A university degree in Business or Engineering (ideally automotive, aerospace or mechanical), or similar, is preferred but not essential;
Professionally qualified to MCIPS level or equivalent, or working towards completion, is preferred;
Deep understanding of the Procurement function and processes, and demonstrable experience of managing multi-national suppliers.
Broad amount of experience as a buyer and senior buyer with an Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), ideally with previous people management experience.
Experience of delivering multiple Category Strategies / Commodity Strategies through cross functional collaboration with Engineering;
Well versed in successfully delivering multi million pound negotiations and contracts for direct materials at senior level with suppliers. Able to coach team members and to be a role model to demonstrate ‘what good looks like’;
Experience of high volume and niche vehicle Procurement, with the ability to apply best practice as appropriate;
Experienced with financial analysis for assessing supplier’s health and for building business cases internally;
Fluent written and verbal English is essential.
Personal Attributes / Competencies
Excellent motivational and coaching skills, with the capability to influence within a dynamic organisation;
Demonstrates through prior roles that they are capable of successfully leading teams, and that they can influence effectively, including cross functionally.
Comfortable dealing with suppliers at all levels of the organisation, up to and including senior management;
Results driven and able to deliver against challenging targets to achieve the overall business objectives;
Excellent organisational skills, deadline adherence and exceptional attention to accuracy and detail;
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
Strong presentation and influencing skills
Able to act under pressure with calmness, clarity of thought and decisive authority;
A great team player who works well and humbly with their colleagues, whilst being confident to demonstrate and share the expertise that they have. 
What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

  • Structured career development framework
  • 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
  • Enhanced company pension scheme
  • Discretionary annual bonus award
  • Private medical insurance and health cash plan
  • Life assurance benefit
  • Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
  • Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
  • Generous parental leave policies
  • A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice
Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. 

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey. 

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