• Job Description

  Req#: R17644

  MBDA is a leading defence organisation that is proud to support our Armed Forces in protecting our nations. We collaborate with governments to achieve a shared goal of defending our freedom.

  Salary: Circa £63k depending on experience

  What we can offer you:

  • Bonus of up to 21% of base salary
  • Pension of maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
  • Annual salary review
  • 25 days annual leave (plus holiday purchase)
  • Fantastic site facilities, including subsidised meals, free car parking and subsidised gym on site at Stevenage
  • Excellent career progression and development opportunities
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • We may be able to offer a relocation package for this role

  Hybrid working pattern: Where possible, we will seek to accommodate a blended approach to on-site and remote working (assume 2 days on site & 3 days remote working)

  The opportunity!

  An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Major Equipment Procurement (MEP) function for MBDA UK. MEP focus on the sourcing, contracting and supply of customized 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. We are also responsible for developing and maintaining long term, open, collaborative and commercially robust business relationships with Suppliers who are crafting and delivering sophisticated sub-systems and outstanding services for MBDA and 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 MBDA UK’s domestic and export programmes. This role will suit someone who is able to develop senior Collaborator relationships (internal and external) to understand MBDA UK’s 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 our needs 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 establish effective relationships, at all levels, across the business to bring this varied picture together that will be key to grow our business and deliver externally-sourced equipment and services at a competitive price, timely and on-quality.

  Key aspects of the role involve:

  • Understanding how the business is developing, its future requirements and markets to advise our Procurement and Supply Chain direction
  • Handle and influence key internal Collaborators across the business, building collaborative relationships to give the procurement agenda credibility and visibility across the business
  • Applying a focused Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) framework in vital 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, standard methodology and legislation, advising managers and leaders of any changes which will be vital to process or industrial policy
  • Ensure compliance with company guidelines by adoption of outstanding procurement practices

  What’s in it for you?

  • You will be joining a highly skilled, upbeat supply chain team who strive for personal and professional excellence such that they are the recognised leaders within MBDA for delivering global through life Major Equipment Procurement solutions to support Customer needs.
  • Our work is sophisticated, challenging and varied. However, we all share the same mind-set: an aim to make things work, deliver sustainable Defence capability to UK Armed forces and other international governments.
  • This is a unique Procurement role, which will provide visibility and business management experience across key MBDA project areas exposing the individual to a range of sophisticated and advanced products and technologies.

  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 optimally deliver, procurement strategies and complex business arrangements in satisfaction of current and new programmes.
  • A natural communicator with excellent social skills, with experience in driving multi-functional teams and delivering to challenging timescales.
  • Strong relationship leadership skills that demonstrate an ability to lead a team and influence key collaborators 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 standard process in a Procurement or Supply Chain context.
  • Ideally, degree qualified in a business field, relevant procurement or supply chain accreditations or equivalent experience.

  Our Business!

  We value new perspectives, collaboration, and diversity. We are committed to growing and supporting diversity in our workforce and ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their potential.

  We encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

  Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), Twitter (@MBDAcareers), Instagram (lifeatMBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.

  Please Note: MBDA UK Limited requires all employees to achieve the required medical and national security clearance for their role. Further restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may also apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are handled by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

  Due to the nature of our business, this particular vacancy requires the applicant as a minimum to be a British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship and capable of achieving the clearance levels mentioned above.

• About the company

  MBDA is a European multinational developer and manufacturer of missiles.

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