Senior Procurement Manager

A highly successful aerospace and defence services organisation requires a Senior Procurement Manager. Reporting to the Head of Procurement, the Senior Procurement Manager will provide procurement leadership across major bids, programmes and strategic initiatives, ensuring effective sourcing strategies, competitive commercial solutions and robust supplier engagement to support operational delivery and long-term business objectives.

Working closely with Engineering, Programmes, Commercial, Finance and Supply Chain stakeholders, the Senior Procurement Manager will play a pivotal role in influencing business decisions, managing strategic supplier relationships and delivering commercial value within a complex, highly regulated environment.

Specific duties of the Senior Procurement Manager include:

• Develop and deliver procurement, sourcing and subcontracting strategies aligned with bid requirements, programme objectives, customer commitments and wider business goals.
• Lead procurement activity across major bids and programmes, ensuring timely delivery of robust commercial solutions, governance compliance and alignment to budget and schedule requirements.
• Provide procurement leadership within cross-functional teams, working closely with Engineering, Programmes, Commercial and Finance stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Lead supplier selection, tendering, proposal evaluation, commercial negotiations and contract execution activities to secure best-value outcomes.
• Develop and manage strategic supplier and subcontractor relationships, driving improvements in cost, quality, delivery, competitiveness and supply chain resilience.
• Identify, assess and mitigate commercial, contractual and supply chain risks, ensuring continuity of supply and programme success.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with governance requirements, export controls, information security obligations and customer-specific regulatory requirements.
• Champion procurement best practice, continuous improvement and capability development, whilst supporting and mentoring procurement colleagues and deputising for senior leadership where required.

Senior Procurement Manager applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Significant procurement, supply chain or subcontract management experience within aerospace, defence, aviation, engineering or another highly regulated technical environment.
• Experience supporting major bids, complex programmes and cross-functional project delivery activities.
• Strong commercial and contractual negotiation capability, including supplier selection, tendering, contract placement and customer flow-down requirements.
• Proven experience managing strategic suppliers, key subcontractors, supplier performance and supply chain risk.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and provide commercially focused recommendations.
• Strong analytical and commercial skills, including cost modelling, supplier performance analysis and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of procurement governance, regulatory compliance and supplier relationship management best practice.
• MCIPS, degree-level education or equivalent professional procurement experience would be advantageous.