NPI & Bid Manager

Overview

In this role you drive procurement for new product introductions and bids within a defence/aerospace context. You lead a project procurement team, partner with internal stakeholders, and shape supplier strategies to optimize cost, quality, and delivery. You’ll influence design-for-manufacture and ensure readiness across the supply chain, delivering value through supplier partnerships and efficient sourcing. This is a chance to impact mission-critical programs by enabling robust, compliant procurement.

Pay / Benefits

• Flexible working options
• Hybrid working where possible
• Full-time employment

Responsibilities

• Lead & develop the project & bid team
• Provide status updates on projects and ensure business priorities are met
• Define transfer readiness for new products to production
• Establish long-term supplier partnerships focusing on total cost of supply
• Align with category managers to optimize supplier base and ensure quality and timeliness
• Maintain agile sourcing strategies by monitoring market conditions
• Ensure production readiness reviews and capacity planning for suppliers
• Identify and influence technology enablement to drive efficiency
• Support and influence future designs with Engineering via supply chain intelligence
• Maximise DFM & DFT opportunities to shorten design cycles and reduce costs
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Engineering, PM and others to meet objectives
• Implement make-buy strategies to deliver turnkey supplier solutions and reduce lead times and costs
• Identify and deliver efficiency and cost savings
• Report monthly to Head of Sourcing & Resilience on initiatives, opportunities, risks, and objectives

Key requirements

• Leadership experience in multi-disciplinary procurement or project sourcing teams within a complex engineering/manufacturing environment
• Strong leadership with track record of high performance and talent development
• Ability to influence across functions (Engineering, Quality, Operations, Programme Management)
• Strategic sourcing, supplier management, and category strategy development in aerospace/regulated sectors
• Strong commercial acumen with focus on total cost of ownership and supplier performance
• Proven cost reduction delivery and long-term value creation
• Experience managing long-term supplier partnerships and negotiating complex agreements including IP considerations
• Deep understanding of NPI and Bid processes, and DFM/DFT activities
• End-to-end lifecycle management from concept to production and sustainment
• Experience with production readiness reviews, capacity planning and make/buy decisions
• Ability to apply technology enablement and digital procurement tools
• Analytical and strategic thinking with capability to identify process improvements
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Understanding of compliance, governance and IP in defence/aerospace contexts
• UK Nationality Vetting readiness and ability to work in the UK

• Networking and stakeholder engagement
• Strategic thinking
• Effective communication with senior leadership
• Strategic sourcing
• Supplier management
• Category strategy

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