Expediter - Directs (Contract)

Location: UK, London Workplace: OnSite Here at Humanoid, we believe in a future where robots amplify human potential. That’s why we’ve set out on a mission to build the world’s most capable, commercially-scalable, and safe humanoid robots. We’re bringing that mission to life with HMND‑01 - our rapidly developed humanoid platform being deployed in real industrial environments - and we’re growing the team to take it even further. ABOUT THE ROLE   We’re hiring 1 x Expediter - Directs on a fixed-term contract to join our team based in London, UK. This is an initial 6-month contract, not a permanent role, reporting into the Global Head of Procurement & Supply Chain with cross reporting to Senior Buyers and Site SCM Managers across London, Vancouver & Boston. WHAT YOU'LL DO We are seeking an Expediter - Directs for a hands-on operational supply chain role that owns every open purchase order from the point of placement through to receipt. The role supports the Global Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, the Senior Buyers and the Site SCM Managers, with the London Beta 1 build as the primary focus, and will from time to time pick up expediting activity for our Boston and Vancouver sites. You will be the single point of contact for open order status across Mechanical, Electronics, Electromechanical and Cables & Harnessing commodities, and the voice of supplier delivery performance into Production, Engineering, Planning and Quality. Operational Responsibilities - Own the open order book: track every open PO from placement to goods receipt and keep status, promised dates and quantities current in the open order tracker (Google Sheets) and Jira. - Secure supplier order acknowledgements within 48 hours of PO placement and challenge any confirmed date that does not meet the required date. - Proactively expedite critical and late orders with suppliers by phone and email, negotiating pull-ins, split deliveries and partial shipments where this protects the build. - Run a daily shortage and late order review with the buyers and planning team, prioritised against the build schedule and clear-to-build dates. - Escalate at-risk deliveries early with a clear recovery plan, options and impact, rather than reporting them once they are late. - Coordinate inbound logistics with the Global Logistics Manager and freight forwarders: collection bookings, shipping documentation, Incoterms, customs paperwork, tracking and proof of delivery. - Confirm receipts with Goods In and the warehouse team and chase discrepancies (short, over, damaged, wrong part or revision) through to closure with the supplier. - Resolve receipt and invoice mismatches with the buyers and Finance so POs can be closed and suppliers paid on time. - Support the buyers with PO amendments (date, quantity and revision changes) and ensure suppliers acknowledge every change. - Chase first article inspection reports, certificates of conformity and material certifications where required ahead of shipment. - Maintain accurate supplier contact, lead time and delivery performance data; report on-time delivery and supplier responsiveness weekly. - Drive continuous improvement of the expediting process, the tracker and the supplier communication cadence. - Support Production, Engineering, Quality and Planning teams with accurate, timely material availability information. - Directly support the SCM team in London and pick up expediting activities for Boston and Vancouver when needed, working across time zones with the local buyers. This role owns the delivery performance of orders already placed. It does not place purchase orders, negotiate pricing or own supplier selection decisions. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Experience & Qualifications - 3+ years of expediting, procurement operations, material control or supply chain experience in manufacturing, robotics, technology, aerospace/defence or automotive. - Proven track record of running an open order book of several hundred lines across engineered parts (machined, sheet metal, cast, PCBA, cables) and catalogue items. - Experience in a new product introduction or low-volume build environment where priorities and schedules move daily. - Experience of working in a fast-paced, high-growth or start-up environment with tight build deadlines, shifting priorities and limited process maturity. - Working knowledge of Incoterms, basic import/export documentation and inbound freight. - Strong with numbers and data: able to analyse open order, lead time and delivery data, spot trends and exceptions, and present a clear, accurate picture of supply status. - Awareness of export controls (including EAR) relevant to robotics and technology. - CIPS or APICS qualification desirable, not essential. Technical Skills - Proficient in Google Workspace (Sheets in particular), Jira and Slack; able to build and maintain an open order tracker from scratch. - Experience with MRP/ERP systems desirable; this role runs on Jira and Google Sheets rather than a formal ERP. - Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail, comfortable reconciling lead times, quantities, dates and revisions. - Able to read a BOM, understand part numbers, drawing revisions and change control. Behavioural Skills - Persistent and tenacious with suppliers while remaining professional; comfortable on the phone every day. - Highly organised with relentless attention to detail; nothing is allowed to drop. - Calm under pressure and able to prioritise many competing demands in a fast-paced, engineering-driven environment. - Clear communicator who gives stakeholders a straight, factual status. - Professional, motivated, and able to operate autonomously. WHAT WE OFFER 1. Competitive day rate, based on experience 2. Office perks: free breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and regular team events 3. Collaboration with top-tier engineers, researchers, and product experts in robotics 4. Startup culture prioritising speed, transparency, and minimal bureaucracy