Senior Buyer (3‑Month Fixed‑Term Contract)

About the role

Lotus UK Manufacturing is seeking a Senior Buyer on a three‑month fixed‑term contract to support the procurement of direct material for its high‑performance sports cars. The role sits within the Supply team at the Hethel manufacturing site and works closely with Engineering, Quality and Programme teams to build robust supply chains for new and existing vehicle programmes.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain world‑class supplier relationships.
• Manage supplier performance across vehicle launch and production phases, ensuring quality, cost and delivery targets are met.
• Analyse the supply base, local and global markets, and define commodity and sourcing strategies.
• Lead negotiations to achieve material cost targets for new product introductions.
• Identify and drive cost‑reduction initiatives, including make‑vs‑buy analyses.
• Monitor supplier capacity, address constraints and implement mitigation plans.
• Collaborate across Production Purchasing, Supplier Quality, Product Engineering and Manufacturing functions.

Required profile

• Proven ability to work independently in a demanding, complex environment.
• Strong communication skills with the capacity to influence cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Team‑player who actively supports and develops colleagues.
• Resilient, tenacious and solution‑oriented with a winning spirit.
• Experience in procurement and supply chain, preferably within manufacturing or automotive sectors.

Required skills