Senior Buyer

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Senior Buyer who can strengthen our supply chain, build strategic supplier partnerships and keep critical electronic components moving reliably into our products. This is a great opportunity for someone with strong technical understanding and commercial awareness to add real value, navigate complex supplier markets, support our engineering teams and help maintain a smooth, efficient production flow.

In this role, you'll take ownership of electronic sourcing, influence key decisions and play a key part in shaping the procurement strategy behind some of the most advanced defence technology in the industry.

Who We Are

OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.

Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.

We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.

The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.

Here's what our benefits have to offer:

• Competitive remuneration package, salary from £40,000 with performance-related bonuses and clear progression opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday + public holidays, with long-service rewards and the option to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches every day, courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
• Private healthcare through Aviva, keeping you feeling your best.
• Life assurance for peace of mind.
• Salary sacrifice schemes - including EV car and Cycle to Work options for easy, sustainable travel.
• Paid team socials - from quiz nights and football to board games and more; we love to have fun together.
• Pension plan with employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
• A culture that empowers - we enable change, encourage challenge, and celebrate personal growth.

What you'll be doing

Electronic Sourcing: Leading the procurement of electronic components, PCB assemblies, harnesses and related hardware

Supplier Management: Building strong supplier relationships, negotiating favourable terms and driving performance in cost, quality and delivery

Technical Collaboration: Working closely with engineering teams to interpret specifications and ensure components meet technical requirements

Risk Management: Managing long-term supply agreements and implementing mitigation strategies for critical, high-risk or long-lead items

Market Analysis: Tracking industry trends such as obsolescence and lead-time fluctuations and communicating impacts to stakeholders

Cost & Process Improvement: Analysing spend, delivering cost-reduction initiatives and continuously improving procurement processes

Data Accuracy: Maintaining accurate supplier, pricing and lead-time information within the ERP system

Issue Resolution: Addressing supply disruptions, expediting orders when required and maintaining clear communication across the organisation

What you'll bring

Procurement Experience: Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within a high-technology manufacturing environment

Electronics Knowledge: Strong understanding of electronic components, PCB assemblies, harnesses and related supply chain constraints

Negotiation Strength: Excellent negotiation skills and experience managing supplier performance

Technical Ability: Able to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs and technical documentation

Systems Capability: Experience using ERP/MRP systems (we use Infor Syteline)

Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to identifying and solving problems

Communication Skills: Effective communicator with strong stakeholder-management capabilities

Prioritisation & Pace: Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment

Qualifications: CIPS qualified or working toward CIPS

More about us:

Vision

Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.

Mission

Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence.

Values

Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest

Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done

Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility

We are one team: Look out for each other and the team

Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on

Have fun: We're doing amazing things with passionate people