Overview
In this Procurement Manager role, you shape and lead the procurement function across direct and indirect spend to enable aerospace programmes, certification milestones, and industrialisation. You will work closely with Engineering, Programme Management, Manufacturing and Compliance to ensure a resilient supply chain and commercially sound decisions. You’ll drive category strategy, supplier governance, and cost discipline in a fast-moving, high-tech aerospace environment. This is a chance to influence the Zephyr programme and transition from development to industrialised production.
Pay / Benefits
- Short-term incentive plan
- 25 days holiday
- Private medical insurance, dental and optical cash back
- Personal pension plan
- Income protection and life assurance
- Employee assistance programme
Responsibilities
- Define and execute procurement strategy across Direct and Indirect spend to support programme delivery and industrialisation
- Lead procurement across aerospace commodities, production support, engineering services, facilities, IT and other indirect categories
- Create category plans, sourcing roadmaps, supplier segmentation and make/buy recommendations
- Run RFx, tender, supplier selection and negotiations with strong governance
- Negotiate and manage supplier agreements, pricing, and contracts to protect the company
- Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Quality and Engineering to meet regulatory and governance requirements
- Build supplier performance frameworks with KPIs across cost, quality, delivery, capacity and improvement
- Support supplier readiness and capacity planning to move from development to repeatable manufacturing
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including long lead items and sole-source exposure
- Improve procurement processes, data quality and reporting across ERP systems
- Support budget control, cost reduction, and procurement forecasting with Finance and project stakeholders
- Lead, coach and develop the Procurement team and foster ownership and high performance
- Represent Procurement in senior cross-functional forums to align with strategic goals
Key requirements
- Proven procurement leadership across strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management and commercial delivery
- Experience in Direct and Indirect Procurement including technical, production, engineering and services
- Strong stakeholder management with ability to influence at senior level
- Background in tender preparation, evaluation, negotiation, contract development and management
- Commercially confident with data-driven decision making and familiarity with cost models and budgets
- Experience in aerospace, defence or other high-complexity regulated industries is desirable
- Understanding of regulated aerospace quality and certification environments (ISO9001, EN/AS9100, CAA)
- Experience with industrialisation, ERP adoption or procurement process improvement
- A degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, Finance or related field; CIPS desirable
- Confidence using M365 and ERP systems such as SAP or Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Desirable driving licence
- Stakeholder influence and collaboration
- Commercial judgement
- Negotiation capability
- Procurement strategy and governance
- Strategic sourcing and category management
- RFx and supplier evaluation
Procurement Manager in Farnborough employer: AALTO HAPS
AALTO is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Farnborough where innovation meets aerospace excellence. As part of Team AALTO, you'll enjoy a culture that values collaboration and creativity, alongside comprehensive benefits such as private medical insurance, generous holiday allowances, and a personal pension plan. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to employee well-being, AALTO is dedicated to unlocking your potential while you contribute to pioneering advancements in Stratospace.
