Nissan Purchasing Graduate Scheme

Location: Cranfield, United Kingdom; Sunderland

Are you ready to dive into the fast-paced world of automotive purchasing? Nissan is looking for driven and dedicated graduates to join our Purchasing team, a critical function where you’ll make a tangible impact on our business from day one.

This is not your typical entry-level role; from the start, you’ll be managing multiple workstreams, taking on high levels of responsibility, and working directly with suppliers to solve real-world challenges. At Nissan, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a team where camaraderie is key, and you’ll be treated as a valued member from the moment you join. With opportunities to travel in the UK and abroad, you’ll gain international exposure and the chance to develop a broad understanding of Nissan’s business operations.

Purchasing at Nissan is unique – our team touches every aspect of the business, from Design and Supply Chain to Legal and Finance. The role offers unmatched visibility within the organisation, with many past Purchasing graduates moving into senior roles. We are offering positions based at our Sunderland plant (NMUK) and our European Technical Centre in Cranfield (NTCE), for successful candidates to be placed in either our Direct Purchasing or Indirect Purchasing department, depending on business needs. Direct Purchasing focuses on sourcing components directly related to new and current car models; Indirect Purchasing involves working with suppliers that support our broader infrastructure including machinery, equipment, facilities, CAPEX and logistics. In either role, you’ll have the opportunity to build your skills, take on real responsibility, and grow within a supportive team environment with excellent mentorship and training.

Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now and start your career journey with Nissan, where you’ll gain invaluable experience, learn from industry experts, and make an impact on a global scale.

What You’ll Be Doing

Supplier Relationship Management: Building and maintaining key relationships with suppliers, working closely with them to ensure competitive costing for high-quality parts

Project & Cost Management: Managing day-to-day and project costs, analysing quotes, negotiating contracts and tracking expenditures related to parts and equipment in the UK and beyond. This includes working on cost reduction projects and managing design changes for vehicle model development

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Daily collaboration with our expert teams across Nissan, including Design, Supply Chain, Finance, and Engineering, to ensure the highest standards in supply chain and optimum cost-effectiveness for customers

Data Analysis & Reporting: Conducting regular cost analysis and internal reporting of key cost information, while also providing project-specific insights to stakeholders to support decision-making

Supplier Site Visits: Travel to supplier locations as part of ongoing relationship management to ensure efficiency, inspect operations, and ensure adherence to Nissan’s strict quality standards

Sourcing & Negotiation: Engage in sourcing new vehicle parts, equipment, and services, negotiating with suppliers to secure the best possible deals for Nissan and our customers

From the start of your scheme you will be supported through a comprehensive training and mentoring programme, covering both business and soft skills such as presentation training and communication.  You will also have access to our vast learning platforms for onward learning in role-specific and technical areas, as well as allowance for on-the-job training in areas of particular relevance

We believe in creating a positive and inclusive culture for all our employees.  You will enjoy placement-specific platforms and support groups, as well as the opportunity to be involved in engagement initiatives such as our wellbeing and CSR programmes

Entry Requirements

You must hold or expect to achieve the following qualification(s): Undergraduate or Postgraduate Degree graded 2:1 or above in a relevant field. Perhaps you are considering a career move to a more collaborative and fast-paced, multi-national environment following initial post-graduate positions.

Please note the successful candidate is expected to commence employment in January 2027 and we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Sponsorship may only be available if the role becomes permanent in January 2029. Applicants must therefore have an existing and independent right to work in the UK for the duration of the fixed-term position.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate should have the following skills or experience:

Strong analytical skills and data-driven approach to problem-solving to enable you to lead best decision making around sourcing and supplier relationships

Thrive in an environment where you deal with a variety of people and departments every day, using your communication and negotiation skills to collaborate effectively with others and achieve the best results for the business

Love to be a part of a team with close project-working, where you will be responsible for handling multiple workstreams daily, using effective time management skills with a proactive attitude to your work

Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in the fast-paced, dynamic automative manufacturing environment

Proficiency in MS Office applications, particularly Excel

You must be willing to travel and be geographically mobile

What we offer

We firmly believe that investment in our employees is integral to their growth and success. As a member of our team, you will have access to many of our benefits - because we want you to feel cared for, supported, and engaged at Nissan. Alongside comprehensive career development and learning opportunities, you will also have access to a wide range of employee benefits.

Competitive base salary starting at £35,967.91

Remote Working Policy (maximum 2 days per week WFH)

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