Strategic Procurement Category Manager

Strategic Procurement Category Manager

The Opportunity:

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Major Equipment Procurement (MEP) function. MEP focus on the sourcing, contracting and supply of bespoke high value / high complexity sub-systems and supporting new technology acquisition needed to deliver world-leading defence capabilities for our home Nations and their Allies. MEP is also responsible for developing and maintaining long term, open, collaborative and commercially robust business relationships with Suppliers who are designing and delivering complex sub-systems and unique services for its customers.

We are seeking a Strategic Procurement Category Manager who will be responsible for the development of procurement strategies for sourcing and delivering equipment and services to support the domestic and export programmes. This role will suit someone who is able to develop senior Stakeholder relationships (internal and external) to understand the business direction and align potential and current Suppliers’ capabilities to meet these needs.

What we’re looking for from you:

As a Strategic Procurement Category Manager in this role, you will have, or develop, a broad knowledge of the global marketplace in which your allocated equipment and services reside including potential Suppliers’ technology capabilities, business environment, cost baselines and programme timeline drivers.

Using this knowledge, you will bring robust and innovative procurement strategies to the business that support the need for domestic and export campaigns and programmes.

The role will be a mixture of supply market research, capability analysis, financial understanding and operational delivery improvement where needed.
You will need to build effective relationships, at all levels, across the business to bring this varied picture together that will be key to grow the business and deliver externally-sourced equipment and services at a competitive price, on-time and on-quality.

Key aspects of the role involve:

• Understanding how the business is developing, its future requirements and markets to inform our Procurement and Supply Chain direction.
• Manage and influence key internal Stakeholders across the business, building collaborative relationships to give the procurement agenda credibility and visibility across the business.
• Applying a disciplined Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) framework in necessary strategic engagements with Suppliers to build the forward-looking picture.
• Analyse overall performance and capabilities in current and potential Suppliers, across the allocated equipment and services with focus on MBDA and Supplier technology alignment reporting to management and business leaders as required.
• Define, implement and deliver a strategic plan for the allocated equipment and services, in line with the overall procurement and business strategy.
• Keep up to date on trends, best practice and legislation, advising managers and leaders of any changes which will be necessary to process or industrial policy.
• Ensure compliance with company guidelines by adoption of best-in-class procurement practices.

Who are we looking for?

• An enthusiastic, proactive and adaptable individual able to deal with changeable / ambiguous complex situations throughout the contract lifecycle whilst remaining motivated and calm.
• An ability to understand customer needs and business drivers and convert this into, and successfully deliver, procurement strategies and complex business arrangements in satisfaction of current and new programmes.
• A natural communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, with experience in driving multifunctional teams and delivering to challenging timescales.
• Strong relationship management skills that demonstrate an ability to lead a team and influence key stakeholders with sincerity and credibility.
• An individual who is flexible and adaptable – there may be some global travel as part of the role.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Substantial experience in a senior Procurement or Supply Chain related role (minimum 5 years), ideally in a Defence, Aerospace or similar contracting environment.
• Demonstrable evidence of innovation and implementation of best practice in a Procurement or Supply Chain context.
• Ideally, degree qualified in a business discipline, relevant procurement or supply chain accreditations or equivalent experience.

Overview:
Position - Strategic Procurement Category Manager – Permanent
Locations – Stevenage, Bolton, Bristol
Salary - £63k Plus bonus.

Keywords: Procurement Category Manager, Procurement strategies, Supply Market research, operational delivery, Supply Chain, Supplier Relationship Management, SRM framework, Supplier technology Alignment.

Only apply for this role if you currently hold the specific Government Security Clearance or are eligible for Government Security Clearance.

Due to the nature of work undertaken at our client's site, incumbents of these positions are required to meet special nationality rules and therefore these vacancies are only open to sole British Citizens. Applicants who meet this criteria will also be required to undergo security clearance vetting, if not already security cleared to a minimum SC level.

Electus Recruitment Solutions provides specialist engineering and technical recruitment solutions to a number of high technology industries. We thank you for your interest in this vacancy. If you don't hear from us within 7 working days please presume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. You are of course free to resubmit your CV/details in the future and we shall assess your suitability at that time.

This is a Permanent Role