Head of Procurement in Northampton

Company Description

General Dynamics Mission Systems engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of more than 13,000 top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defence and scientific arenas. In the UK, we are leading the way in avionics and communication systems. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. General Dynamics in St Leonards-on-Sea currently provide avionic mission computing systems for a wide range of military fast jets, helicopters, and UAVs. Recent success has resulted in General Dynamics developing the next generation of Advanced High Performance, Safety Critical Mission Computer Systems to meet the needs of latest platforms in development by several aircraft manufacturers. These Mission Computing Systems provide the functionality that integrates aircraft systems, sensor systems and stores management systems with the information and control systems required by the aircrew to meet the demanding operational needs of these aircraft.

Job Description

We are currently hiring a Head of Procurement to lead a team of procurement professionals in delivering a unified procurement strategy that supports manufacturing, programs, compliance, and key business objectives across the full product life cycle. This role requires close collaboration across all business functions to align procurement and supply chain activities with organisational priorities. In this role, you will provide senior leadership across all supply chain activities within GDMS-UK, driving growth, operational excellence, and transformational change in alignment with the business plan. You will oversee supply chain resources to ensure the organisation has the skills, capabilities, and processes required to achieve financial and strategic objectives. You will also develop and maintain strategic relationships with critical suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships that support shared objectives around cost, delivery reliability, and performance. This role includes financial oversight of material revenue, departmental overhead, program performance estimates, negotiated savings, and identification of risks and opportunities. You will play a key role in shaping future business opportunities through leadership in the customer tender process. Strong communication and collaboration are essential, as you will align supply chain priorities with business needs while cultivating relationships with senior leadership, internal stakeholders, and strategic suppliers. You will work closely with other senior leaders to ensure long-term alignment on talent development, process improvement, and technology deployment.

You are responsible for:

• Leading the Procurement team (Procurement Manager, Program Manager, Bids & Material Costing, and Buyers) and ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Setting and communicating procurement strategy, priorities, and expectations to drive consistent execution and accountability.
• Delivering timely, cost-effective, and high-quality materials that meet manufacturing and service requirements.
• Developing product cost and supply road maps that support program needs, drive commonality, and position the business for future opportunities.
• Leading Design-to-Cost initiatives and strategic sourcing approaches that deliver competitive pricing, cost avoidance, and improved market positioning.
• Articulating and aligning all mission-critical requirements, including forecasts, project deliverables, acquisition strategies, supplier development, and risk management across stakeholders.
• Managing material financial performance, including baselines, targets, negotiated savings, estimates at completion, and risk/opportunity analysis.
• Leveraging analytical insights to identify trends, anticipate risks and opportunities, and recommend strategic actions.
• Driving rigorous supplier due diligence, capability assessment, and ongoing performance management.
• Maintaining compliance with all procurement standards, regulatory requirements, and corporate policies.

Qualifications

Typically requires degree level education and staff and/or technical project/process management experience, or equivalent. Experience in procurement and subcontract management in the military and aerospace sector. Experience working in the tactical environment (what needs to be done now to achieve the current business objectives) and the strategic environment (establishing and aligning the team around strategic objectives). Strong negotiation skills. Leadership through influence and effective conflict resolution. Strong financial experience. Strong communication skills from the front end to the boardroom.

Additional Information

This role has a salary of between £70,000 and £90,000 plus our flexible benefits package. We are open to this role being spent with time working from home and in the office (hybrid - typically 3 days working in office) on a weekly basis or fully in our offices. Travel between our sites (Hastings and Oakdale, South Wales) is a requirement of this role (likely monthly or as deemed required). We pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose, offering impressive benefits:

• A compressed nine-day fortnight and compressed hours - which means every other Friday off.
• A personalized career development plan, alongside regular progress reviews - supporting and valuing your progression within the Company.
• A flexible working environment where your contributions are recognized and rewarded with flexible benefits.

We believe in maintaining a diverse workplace - inclusive of beliefs, cultural background, job experiences, thoughts and ideas. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we welcome you to join our inclusive team! Our success is fuelled by our colleagues and the wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills they bring to the Company. We are a Disability Confident Employer, as such we offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Please email disabilityconfident@gd-ms.uk if you would like your application to be considered under the DC Scheme. All successful/appointed applicants must be able to obtain a level of UK Security clearance that is appropriate for the role and undertake suitable Right to work checks. Every application matters to us. We want you to know that each application we receive is reviewed by a real person-not just an algorithm. Our screening questions are also carefully considered to help us understand your experience and fit for the role. We appreciate the time you take to apply.