Lead Procurement Specialist

The Lead Buyer will be responsible for providing end‑to‑end procurement support for a defined set of complex direct materials or services. They will apply sourcing policies, act as the key interface between suppliers, internal stakeholders and operational teams, and ensure compliance with specifications, budgets and schedules. The Lead Buyer will also support the Regional Procurement Leader with KPIs, procurement initiatives and wider operational objectives

As a Lead Buyer, you will be responsible for:

• Managing end-to-end procurement activities across assigned commodities, suppliers, and work scopes, ensuring materials and services are delivered in line with business requirements, quality standards, and delivery commitments.
• Taking ownership of supplier performance, proactively managing delivery, quality, capacity, and commercial risks while driving timely resolution of issues and minimizing impact to operations and customers.
• Building strong working relationships with suppliers and developing a thorough understanding of products, manufacturing processes, and supply chain constraints to identify and mitigate potential risks before they impact delivery.
• Leading commercial negotiations within delegated authority to secure the best overall value for the business while balancing cost, quality, delivery, and operational requirements.
• Acting as the primary procurement focal point for Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Project teams, ensuring effective communication, alignment of priorities, and timely resolution of supply chain challenges.
• Managing multiple complex procurement activities simultaneously, effectively prioritising workload and resources to meet business objectives within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Driving purchase order execution, supplier follow-up, and expediting activities, ensuring commitments are met and stakeholders are provided with timely and accurate updates on progress, risks, and recovery plans.
• Proactively identifying supply chain, supplier, and delivery risks, developing mitigation plans, and coordinating actions with internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure continuity of supply.
• Analysing procurement, supplier, and operational performance data to identify trends, support decision-making, and drive actions that improve business performance and supplier outcomes.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, and ways of working, contributing to continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Maintaining accurate procurement data and ensuring ERP systems and business tools are updated in a timely manner to support visibility, reporting, and decision-making.
• Demonstrating leadership through ownership, collaboration, and influence, supporting knowledge sharing, onboarding activities, and the successful delivery of team and regional procurement objectives.

Fuel your passion

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, preferably in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Have proven experience in procurement or sourcing, ideally within a manufacturing, engineering, machining, or other complex, high-compliance environment.
• Have demonstrated capabilities in supplier management, including negotiation, purchase order execution, expediting, issue resolution, risk mitigation, and relationship building.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, products, and supply chain dynamics, with the ability to identify potential delivery risks and proactively develop mitigation plans.
• Be proficient in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle or similar) and comfortable analysing data to support reporting, decision-making, performance monitoring, and risk management.
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and suppliers at various levels and build effective cross-functional relationships.
• Have experience working closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Project teams to support business objectives and resolve supply chain challenges.
• Have strong interpersonal, organisational, and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple priorities simultaneously, work independently, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate ownership and accountability, with the ability to take initiative, lead activities independently, and operate effectively with minimal supervision.
• Be highly organised and capable of managing complex work scopes, balancing competing priorities, and driving actions through to completion.
• Be able to lead initiatives of moderate scope, drive actions through influence rather than authority, and support continuous improvement activities that enhance procurement and operational performance.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions, anticipate challenges, and proactively drive solutions.
• Show resilience, adaptability, and a customer-focused mindset when operating in a dynamic business environment.
• CIPS qualification or equivalent (or working towards it) is highly desirable.

Work in a way that works for you

We recognize that everyone is different and that the way in which people want to work and deliver at their best is different for everyone too. In this role, we can offer the following flexible working pattern:

This role is based in Aberdeen and follows a hybrid working model of 4 days per week in the office and 1 day working remotely.

Occasional travel may be required to support supplier visits, stakeholder engagement, training, and other business requirements.

Working with us

Our people are at the heart of what we do at Baker Hughes. We know we are better when all of our people are developed, engaged and able to bring their whole authentic selves to work. We invest in the health and well-being of our workforce, train and reward talent and develop leaders at all levels to bring out the best in each other.

Working for you

Our inventions have revolutionized energy for over a century. But to keep going forward tomorrow, we know we have to push the boundaries today. We prioritize rewarding those who embrace change with a package that reflects how much we value their input.  Join us, and you can expect:

• Contemporary work-life balance policies and wellbeing activities

• Comprehensive private medical care options

• Safety net of life insurance and disability programs

• Tailored financial programs

• Additional elected or voluntary benefits.

The Baker Hughes internal title for this role is: Sourcing Specialist - Buying/Procurement