Subcontract/Senior Procurement Manager

Summary
Take ownership of complex supplier agreements and lead procurement activity across high value defence programmes. You'll have the scope to influence commercial outcomes, develop others and build your leadership profile within a varied project environment.

Location and Setup
The role is based in the Greater Manchester area and is hybrid-working (roughly 2 days a week onsite).

Your role

• Lead the procurement and subcontract strategy across a portfolio of complex defence programmes, ensuring suppliers deliver against cost, quality and schedule requirements.
• Manage the full subcontract lifecycle from early engagement and competitive tendering through to negotiation, contract award, performance management and contract closure.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, acting as the primary commercial interface and resolving contractual, delivery and performance challenges.
• Provide commercial leadership to project, engineering and programme teams, ensuring procurement decisions support wider business objectives and programme success.
• Lead, coach and develop procurement professionals, driving high standards of performance, compliance and stakeholder engagement across the team.
• Negotiate complex contractual terms, pricing structures and commercial agreements while protecting programme interests and managing risk appropriately.
• Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance, reduce risk and strengthen long-term supply chain capability across critical projects.
• Support business growth activities through supplier engagement, sourcing strategies and procurement input into bids and future programme planning.

Skills and background

• Proven experience managing high value subcontracts, supplier agreements or strategic procurement activities within a complex engineering, manufacturing or defence environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to negotiate contracts, terms and conditions and supplier commitments that deliver successful business outcomes.
• Experience leading procurement teams, mentoring colleagues or managing cross-functional activities within a project-driven environment.
• Ability to interpret contractual requirements, assess commercial risk and implement effective mitigation strategies throughout programme delivery.
• Track record of managing supplier performance, resolving commercial challenges and building productive long-term supplier relationships.
• Experience supporting competitive tendering, supplier selection and sourcing strategies, including evaluation and recommendation activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the confidence to engage senior internal customers, project leaders and supplier representatives.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities whilst maintaining compliance with governance and procurement processes.

 
Essential requirements

• British citizen eligible to obtain and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance
  • Proven experience in procurement, subcontract management or strategic sourcing
  • Strong contract negotiation and commercial management capability
  • Experience leading or managing procurement professionals or cross-functional teams
  • Ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders, suppliers and project teams

What is in it for you
A base salary in the region of £65,000 is on offer, with additional benefits including annual bonus of 20%, enhanced pension contribution, as well as clear and tangible progressional paths.

Our client is committed to creating an inclusive environment where individuals are assessed on skills, experience and potential. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds. Due to the nature of work at our client's site, these vacancies are only open to British Citizens who hold SC clearance or can obtain it.

Electus Recruitment Solutions provides specialist engineering and technical recruitment solutions to high-technology industries. Thank you for your interest. If you do not hear from us within seven working days, please presume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. You may resubmit your CV or details in the future, and we shall assess your suitability then.