Operational Buyer
Date: May 29, 2026
Location: Bristol, GB
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
It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers.
At our GKN Filton site, we specialise in the design and manufacture of large complex structural wing assemblies, detailed metallic components and wing systems for a combination of both civil and military aircraft.
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Operational Buyer to join us on a 12-month FTC. The main task for this role is to manage supplier performance and ensure the effective delivery of materials in line with operational requirements across an approximate £10m spend.
This role will be 100% on site at our Filton, Bristol location.
What You'll Be Doing
- Manage supplier scheduling in line with MPS and maintain accurate MRP data.
- Ensure accurate scheduling information.
- Support in delivering external supply reviews.
- Maintain external capacity reviews.
- Drive continuous supplier performance improvement.
- Support supplier quality processes (non-conformance, returns, claims).
- Managing both internal and external stakeholders.
- Utilising data to improve internal and external processes.
What You'll Bring
For this role, we're looking for you to have a couple of years of experience within a relevant role, or to have a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree.
The other essentials are very much behavioural; we're looking for people who are able to stay cool under pressure.
Essential
- 2+ years of relevant experience or relevant degree qualification.
- Excellent English communication skills.
- High capacity to utilise MS Office tools.
- Great stakeholder management.
- Data analytics skills.
- Supplier/customer escalation exposure.
- Problem resolution.
Desirable
- CIPS qualification
- Experience using ERP system (SAP preferred)
What We'll Offer
Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience.
- Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we'll pay 1.5x your contribution (max 12%)
- Life Assurance 8 x salary.
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
- Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at early on a Friday.
- Income protection.
- Shopping discounts.
- Cycle To Work Scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
- A collaborative, dynamic working environment.
As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!
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.
