Technical Category Manager - Electrical & VMI in Windlesham

We are looking for a Technical Category Manager – Electrical & VMI to lead the Strategic Procurement of electrical and electronic components across New, Modified and Carryover programmes.

Operating with a high level of accountability, technical expertise and commercial awareness, you will be responsible for ensuring the right components are available at the right time, in the right quantities and at the right cost, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and supply continuity.

Working closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Logistics and Finance teams, you will play a pivotal role in the management of electrical and electronic suppliers, with particular responsibility for developing and optimising Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solutions.

You will use supplier relationships, procurement data and consumption information to improve material availability, reduce inventory risk and support efficient manufacturing operations.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop and lead strategic procurement activity within a fast-paced, world-class automotive environment, working with technically complex electrical and electronic commodities while driving supplier performance, commercial value and continuous improvement.

The Role

You will be responsible for the strategic procurement and supplier management of electrical and electronic components, ensuring robust supply, competitive commercial performance and effective inventory management.

A key focus of the role will be the development and management of VMI arrangements, ensuring suppliers have the visibility, processes and accountability required to maintain agreed stock levels and support uninterrupted production.

This is your chance to

• Lead the Strategic Procurement of electrical and electronic components across New, Modified and Carryover programmes.
• Develop and implement category strategies for electrical and electronic commodities, balancing cost, quality, availability, lead time and supply chain resilience.
• Own and develop VMI strategies with key suppliers, ensuring material availability is aligned with actual and forecast consumption.
• Establish and maintain effective supplier-managed inventory parameters, including agreed stock levels, replenishment triggers, lead times and service expectations.
• Monitor VMI performance and supplier replenishment activity to ensure materials are available when required and production requirements are consistently supported.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Logistics teams to understand consumption, demand profiles and future requirements, translating these into effective supplier and inventory strategies.
• Use ERP/MRP data, consumption trends and supplier information to identify potential shortages, excess inventory and opportunities to optimise stock levels.
• Ensure accurate and timely flow of procurement, inventory and consumption data between internal systems and suppliers.
• Manage and develop strategic relationships with electrical and electronic component suppliers, ensuring high levels of service, responsiveness and supply continuity.
• Work closely with Engineering to understand technical requirements, component specifications, design changes and new product introductions.
• Support the sourcing and procurement of electrical components, electronic systems, wiring-related components, sensors, control systems and other technically complex commodities.
• Evaluate supplier capability, capacity, technical competence and supply chain resilience as part of sourcing and supplier selection activities.
• Lead supplier negotiations and commercial discussions to achieve competitive pricing, favourable terms and sustainable supply arrangements.
• Analyse supplier cost structures, quotations and commercial proposals to identify opportunities for cost reduction and value improvement.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier performance management processes, using KPIs covering delivery, quality, responsiveness, inventory and commercial performance.
• Identify and proactively manage supply chain risks, including long lead-time components, capacity constraints, obsolescence, allocation risks and single-source dependencies.
• Develop appropriate contingency and risk mitigation plans to protect production and programme delivery.
• Support the introduction of new electrical and electronic components, ensuring suppliers are aligned with programme timing, technical requirements and expected demand.
• Manage engineering changes and component modifications from a procurement and supply perspective, ensuring supplier readiness and inventory implications are understood and controlled.
• Work collaboratively with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier quality issues and implement effective corrective actions.
• Monitor supplier lead times, forecasts, open orders and inventory positions to proactively identify potential supply issues.
• Ensure suppliers maintain appropriate stock coverage and replenishment processes in line with agreed VMI requirements.
• Challenge supplier performance and existing processes where necessary, driving continuous improvement in service, cost, inventory and supply resilience.
• Maintain accurate procurement, supplier, component and inventory information within ERP/MRP systems.
• Ensure strong data integrity and flow between internal systems, suppliers and relevant stakeholders.
• Produce and utilise procurement and supplier performance data to support decision-making, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Support cross-functional projects aimed at reducing inventory, improving material availability and increasing supply chain efficiency.
• Ensure procurement and VMI activities comply with company procedures, governance requirements and agreed commercial strategies.
• Take ownership of agreed procurement objectives, operating with a high level of accountability and delivering measurable improvements across electrical procurement and supplier performance.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

You'll be an experienced technical procurement professional with a strong understanding of electrical and electronic components, supplier management and inventory-based supply solutions.

You'll be commercially astute, highly organised and confident working with technical stakeholders, suppliers and data to ensure continuity of supply and optimal inventory performance.

• Proven experience in technical procurement, ideally within automotive, motorsport, aerospace or a similar engineering and manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of electrical and electronic components, systems and manufacturing processes.
• Experience procuring electrical or electronic commodities, with an understanding of technical specifications, component availability and supplier capability.
• Strong understanding of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), supplier replenishment processes and inventory management principles.
• Proven experience managing or developing VMI relationships and supplier-managed stock arrangements.
• Understanding of MRP/ERP systems, material planning, consumption data, forecasts and inventory parameters.
• Strong understanding of data integrity and data flow between ERP/MRP systems, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse consumption, demand and inventory data to identify supply risks and opportunities to optimise stock levels.
• Exceptional supplier management and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to build strong, commercially focused relationships.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to balance quality, cost, inventory, availability and lead-time considerations.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of supplier performance management, including delivery, quality, service and inventory KPIs.
• Ability to identify and mitigate supply chain risks, particularly around long lead-time, constrained, obsolete or single-source electrical and electronic components.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working with large volumes of procurement, inventory and consumption data and translating this into actionable information.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to respond effectively to changing programme requirements and supply chain challenges.
• Organised, persuasive, resourceful and flexible, with the confidence to challenge suppliers and existing processes.
• Ambitious and self-directing, with a strong passion for delivering objectives and measurable commercial and operational improvements.
• Clear and effective communication skills with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work effectively across Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Finance.
• A proactive and collaborative approach with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• Must be a team player who is comfortable taking ownership, making decisions and operating with a high level of accountability

Why This Role Matters

This is an opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring the electrical and electronic components required to build our products are available exactly when they are needed.

As a Technical Category Manager – Electrical & VMI, you will sit at the heart of the relationship between procurement, suppliers, engineering and manufacturing, ensuring complex electrical supply chains remain commercially competitive, technically compliant and resilient.

Your ownership of VMI and supplier‑managed inventory will have a direct impact on production continuity, working capital, inventory efficiency and supplier performance.

By improving visibility of demand and consumption, strengthening supplier relationships and proactively managing supply risk, you will help ensure the business has the materials it needs without carrying unnecessary inventory.

#J-18808-Ljbffr