Head of Procurement

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 500 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

As part of the global entity Saab AB, Saab UK combines the innovative spirit of a start-up with the resources and expertise of a larger corporation. Globally, Saab employs over 22,000 people, with operations on every continent. Our partnerships with UK customers and industry mean we are able to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges, anticipating the threats of tomorrow. We invest 23% of our annual revenue into research and development, collaborating with a range of partners including industry and academia. Saab is a company that offers our employees plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. We embrace diversity and are committed to providing a workplace where individuals can thrive professionally, paving the way for future progression. We also recognise the need for a healthy work-life balance to ensure our staff have the chance to live a fulfilling life beyond the workplace.

The role involves expanding the Land Systems team in the UK to win and deliver business. The primary customers are MOD, Army HQ, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and Dstl. An essential aspect of this is fostering and maintaining the relationship with UK Customers to build and maintain confidence in Saab and to create the conditions for future business. The Head of Procurement (HoP) is a key senior management appointment within Saab UK’s Land Systems Division.

The HoP is responsible to the VP Commercial Director Saab UK and via dotted line day-to-day tasking and reporting, to the VP Director of Operating Division (OD) Land Systems UK. You will develop and deliver the OD’s procurement strategy and organisation to facilitate best value and perfect delivery fulfilment for the envisaged strategic subcontracts as well as ensuring efficient and timely purchasing at the operational level. HoP will be a key contributor to best practice development in procurement/supply chain management for Saab UK and the Land Systems OD.

Responsibilities include:

• Building and leading a team of procurement professionals to deliver best practice procurement support and interventions across the entire Land Systems portfolio of pursuits and programmes.
• Acting as trusted procurement advisor to and spreading best practice awareness amongst the OD management team.
• Instilling awareness of procurement practices and encouraging commercial innovation.
• Adapting, applying and sharing Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) best practice and wider commercial awareness with the Land ODs and OUs and wider population.
• Advancing Saab’s ESG, Social Value, Ethics and Compliance and Sustainability agendas through the Land Systems supply chain.
• Delivering the five ‘R’s for the OD: right cost/price, quality, time, quantity and plans.
• Identifying and qualifying new suppliers and partners in compliance with the Saab Global Management System and best practice.
• Developing and managing key relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Ensuring the highest standards of ethics and legal/contractual/regulatory compliance.
• Developing appropriate processes, process improvements, boilerplate, templates, tools and techniques for the wider UK procurement toolkit.
• Being a key participant in relevant communities of practice across Saab including procurement councils and UK communities of practice.
• Proposing and negotiating deal constructs and purchase order/contract terms and conditions and closing deals that deliver best value to Land OD/Saab UK and thereby UK Defence.
• Focusing upon the Ground Combat portfolio, managing complex and high value relationships and subcontracts, especially with UK MOD and BU Ground Combat Karlskoga.
• Providing advice to Procurement teams, especially on flowdown of MOD conditions, including QDCs under SSRO regulations etc. and other policy, legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Designing and providing timely and accurate reporting on KPUIs and qualitative aspects of supply chain performance.

Requirements include:

• Degree in Business management or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of commercial/procurement/operations management experience with a track record of implementing change and managing process improvements in a complex environment.
• Deep experience and understanding of the UK Government/Defence acquisition processes and budgets.
• Strong business acumen with a broad understanding of fundamental business principles.
• Excellent management, decision-making, and problem-solving and inter-personal skills.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma and similar.
• Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems such as SAP, IFS.
• Proven ability to drive process improvement.
• Inclusive leadership approach.
• Proven track record as a team leader with a clear understanding of commercial management practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and build a consensus in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• In possession of or able to achieve Security Clearance (UK Eyes Only).

Regardless of whether you value cutting edge technology, creativity or an innovative environment, everyone at Saab contributes to keeping people and society safe.