At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing activities and develop category strategies for Engineering Services and Materials.
- Company: Join a £2BN global defence and security company with a mission to protect lives.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on resilience and adaptability during transformation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a critical industry while driving innovation and value.
- Qualifications: Active SC clearance, degree or equivalent experience, and strategic category management skills.
Role: Commercial Manager x 2
Location: Ideally Farnborough, willing to consider Malvern or Boscombe down
Rate: Around £650 to £700 per day
Length: initially 6 months
CANDIDATE MUST HAVE ACTIVE SC CLEARANCE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE ROLE
Background
We are a £2BN global defence and security company delivering mission-critical solutions that protect lives and enable operational advantage. Our vision is "to be the chosen partner around the world innovating for our customers' advantage." To do this, we combine deep technical expertise with a bold approach to innovation - helping our customers solve complex challenges across land, sea, air, space and cyber. We employ circa 8,000 people in 50 locations across the UK, Europe, US, and Australia.
About Procurement and Supply Chain
Finance is a Global Group Function with Procurement and Supply Chain, a key department, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and influencing £1BN spend across directs and indirects. The Procurement and Supply Chain department has several key pillars including Business Partnering, Category Management, Supply Chain, Responsible Procurement and Operational Excellence. To deliver the business' five-year growth strategy, we need to foster and enable a progressive mindset. We aspire to be a key business enabler and a value creator. To do this we need to shape and influence stakeholder strategies, drive value, deliver excellence and manage supply chain opportunities and risk.
Materials, Manufacturing & Products Team
The Materials, Manufacturing & Products team provide various levels of support from Category Management to project delivery of owned products. We are responsible for a spend of circa £100 million across key categories including but not limited to Contract Electrical Manufacturing, Precision Engineering and Engineering Support Services. This role sits within the dedicated Category Management spoke of the department. The team are responsible for delivering fit for purpose eco systems that align to our various capabilities not only delivering value for money but supporting a validated response to our customers' needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, driving early engagement to influence business planning and ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
- Support with development and execution of category strategies for Engineering Services and Materials, using market insights to maximize value.
- Lead sourcing activity, including the design of sourcing strategies, working with the business to support investment case development, run competitive tenders, and negotiating mid-value and complex contracts.
- Manage category-specific risks, including information security, supply resilience, geopolitical, financial and sustainability considerations.
- Support stakeholders to drive Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) across key contracts to ensure performance, innovation, and value realisation from strategic partnerships.
- Support the Finance and Business Systems transformation, including transition from SAP Ariba to Oracle Fusion and establishment of a mature Source-to-Pay model.
Key Person Attributes
- Clear and confident communicator who can adapt their style to suit stakeholders.
- Builds trusted relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
- Collaborates effectively across teams and coaches others when needed.
- Ability to work independently and takes accountability to resolve problems, interpreting data and drawing relevant insights to inform decision making.
- Ability to balance commercial, operational and risk considerations to drive the best outcomes in ambiguous or dynamic environments and collaborates cross-functionally to achieve this.
- Demonstrates resilience and adaptability during transformation.
- Role-models integrity and a growth mindset.
- Proactively challenges existing ways of working and contributes to Supply Chain and Procurement functional development.
Experience and Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent professional experience.
- MCIPS qualified or working towards completion (desired).
- Minimum three years' strategic category management experience in similar categories of spend.
- Proven track record of building successful relationships with stakeholders.
- Demonstrable experience negotiating Manufacturing and Supply contracts.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Practical experience with Source to Pay (S2P) technology.
Commercial Manager in Farnborough, Hampshire employer: Energy Jobline CVL
Join a well-established property maintenance contractor in Birmingham, where you will enjoy a supportive work culture and the opportunity for career progression. With benefits such as a company van, fuel card, and ongoing training, this role not only offers stability but also the chance to develop your skills in a hands-on environment backed by an experienced office team. Experience a rewarding career with guaranteed annual leave and social events that foster a strong team spirit.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager in Farnborough, Hampshire
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager in Farnborough, Hampshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show Energy Jobline CVL that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, Energy Jobline CVL can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows Energy Jobline CVL that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let Energy Jobline CVL know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Jobline CVL
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
