Global Commodity Buyer - Direct Material

Global Commodity Buyer - Direct Material

Date: Oct 6, 2025

Location:Phoenix, AZ, US Westlake, TX, US

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

• The Commodity Buyer / Senior Buyer is responsible for managing procurement expenditure as directed by the Commodity Manager, which must include maintaining Strategic Relationships with existing and future Suppliers
• Ensuring requirements are met on time and in accordance with the appropriate quality standards, delivering a highly capable and cost effective supply base, focus must be on the implementation of the Commodity Procurement Strategy, and support to the commodity management teams and other areas of Supply Chain management when required
• The role entails operating with a increasing levels of autonomy at Senior level, whilst being an effective member of the commodity management team, delivering cost effective solutions for commodity.
• A key element of the role is to ensure the commodity strategy is aligned to the individual site and programme requirements, whilst ensuring ultimate value generation for the business. There will also be a requirement to support commodity management projects on behalf of the wider GKN Aerospace business, relevant site and programme.

This is a Hybrid Role where you travel, work from home and go into the Pheonix location.

Travel is 20-25%

Job Responsibilities

The Commodity Buyer will be responsible for supporting strategic sourcing for the relevant commodity to maximise leverage of direct material reporting to the Global Commodity Manager:

• Support the commodity team to meet or exceed objectives related to commodities including: Cost Savings, economics, working capital, quality, supplier rationalisation, low cost sourcing and other agreed objectives.
• Take Leadership when required for commodity activities in coordination with costing and engineering to drive a competitive advantage for GKN Aerospace.
• Support in the development of commodity strategies
• Ensure self develop in the field of Procurement
• Support and prepare the Make or Buy decisions, prepare data and plans for relevant commodity gate reviews.
• Support efforts concerning supply base rationalization and supplier development.
• Ensure Leveraging synergies across the GKN global network.
• Build RFI/RFP packs and work with Cost Analysts / ME to test value for money.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years Commodity Management / Commodity or experience with 5 years in Aerospace industry preferred.
• 3-5 year experience in Quality/Engineering/Manufacturing in the Aerospace Industry.
• Ability to interact with people of different levels inside/ outside the company and to operate within a team to reach team goals and business objectives.
• Communication skills – including first class reporting techniques
• Commercial, negotiation and financial skills

Preferred Qualifications

• GKN Aerospace Experience
• Ability to take full responsibility for decisions & results even when all elements are not under individual direct control.
• Ability to set goals consistent with company objectives and to adapt plans to changing environment.
• Experience in implementing industry leading best practices.
• Ability to motivate and co-ordinate in a multi-functional environment
• Project management techniques
• Business Consciousness
• Business Ethics
• Influence and Persuasiveness
• Managing Risk
• Decision Making
• Responsibility
• To have fullfilled senior postions outside of Supply Chain / Procurement within the Aerospace industry

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.​
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Nearest Major Market: Phoenix