Director Procurement Means & Methods

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies and committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do.

With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Director Procurement Excellence is accountable for the strategy, selection, development, implementation and maintenance of global procurement processes, digital solutions, reporting and training maintained by the Procurement Excellence function, enabling and ensuring support to procurement teams globally as appropriate. The Director Procurement Excellence leads and develops the Project Managers / Experts of the Procurement Excellence team.

Job Responsibilities

• Role modelling a culture that is aligned to the GKN Aerospace “Great Place to Work” value drivers and Culture Principles.
• Accountable for soliciting and developing Procurement Excellence requirements for the specification of global functional processes.
• Accountable for the strategy, selection, development, implementation and maintenance of the global procurement processes and solutions maintained by the Procurement Excellence function.
• Accountable for promoting the standardisation and deployment of new and existing global procurement process and systems and supporting their architecture.
• Accountable for the development and compliant use of project management methodology for all Procurement Excellence projects.
• Is accountable for the relationship with partners of solutions used within the Procurement function to support the global Procurement process.
• Leads and develops the global Procurement Excellence team based across multiple countries.
• Develop and introduce new ‘best practice’ digital procurement technologies with continuous improvement mindset.
• Accountable for the relationship with Business Line procurement leaders, global commodity teams, site procurement leaders and other key functions (including IT and Finance) and main GKNA suppliers for Procurement Excellence function as a trusted business partner.
• Organise Procurement Excellence departmental reviews with Stakeholders (e.g. to monitor Procurement Excellence project status).
• Accountable for projects budget and deliverables, including contribution to sustainability targets.

Qualifications

• BSc degree, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 15 years relevant business experience.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in Procurement and SCM and leading global teams.
• Strong understanding of Procurement Excellence and change management, with a track record of the project management, development and implementation of business systems.
• Track record in developing and implementation of digital solutions supporting business process and organisation.
• Proven leadership skills, motivational approach to team management, with demonstrated ability to lead a disseminated team across different sites/countries.
• High level knowledge of procurement principles & practices including commodity management.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills including to senior management.
• Strong understanding of the Aerospace industry and associated technological and commercial trends.

Core competences: Analytical ability, Multicultural sensitivity, Networks, Independence, Planning and organisation, Professional content, Collaboration.

Travel: Significant travel to GKN Aerospace globally.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working. Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work. We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.