Procurement Manager in Cove

This is your opportunity to join an ambitious organisation at a pivotal stage of growth and industrialisation, helping to unlock the potential of a brand-new aerospace frontier.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Manager to lead and develop procurement activities across both direct and indirect spend categories. Reporting to the VP of Procurement, you will play a key role in shaping sourcing strategies, strengthening supplier partnerships and driving commercial excellence across the business. Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Programme Management, Quality, Finance, Legal, IT and Operations teams, you will ensure AALTO has the robust supply chain, commercial governance and supplier capability required to support continued growth, aircraft certification and large-scale manufacturing operations. This role offers the chance to make a visible impact in a fast-paced, high-technology environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement procurement strategies that support programme delivery, certification milestones, industrialisation and operational objectives.
• Lead sourcing activity across a diverse portfolio, including aerospace commodities, engineering services, facilities, IT, professional services and other indirect categories.
• Create category strategies, sourcing roadmaps and supplier segmentation plans that balance cost, quality, delivery performance and risk.
• Manage end-to-end tendering, RFx processes, supplier selection exercises and commercial negotiations.
• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, framework agreements, pricing structures and statements of work to protect and enhance business value.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Quality and Engineering teams to ensure procurement activities meet regulatory and governance requirements.
• Establish and manage supplier performance frameworks, including KPIs covering cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness and continuous improvement.
• Support supplier readiness, capacity planning and industrialisation programmes as AALTO transitions into repeatable manufacturing operations.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including long lead times, single-source dependencies, financial risks and regulatory challenges.
• Drive improvements in procurement processes, systems, reporting and data quality.
• Partner with Finance and programme teams to support cost reduction initiatives, budget control and forecasting activities.
• Lead, coach and develop procurement team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and professional growth.
• Represent Procurement in cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to strategic decision-making.

About You

We're looking for a commercially focused procurement professional who can thrive in a dynamic and highly regulated environment. You'll bring:

• Significant experience in procurement leadership, strategic sourcing, category management and supplier relationship management.
• Proven expertise across both direct and indirect procurement categories.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and engage senior leaders across technical and business functions.
• Experience managing complex tenders, supplier negotiations, contract development and contract management activities.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse supplier proposals, budgets, forecasts and procurement performance metrics.
• Experience within aerospace, defence, aviation, automotive, advanced manufacturing or another complex regulated industry.
• Knowledge of quality and certification frameworks such as ISO9001, EN/AS9100, CAA requirements or similar standards.
• Experience supporting industrialisation programmes, supply chain transformation, ERP implementation or procurement process improvements.
• Degree-level education in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, Finance or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• CIPS qualification (desirable).
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 or similar procurement and supply chain platforms.

What Sets You Apart

You'll excel in this role if you have:

• The ability to navigate complex procurement challenges and deliver practical solutions.
• Strong commercial judgement and negotiation skills.
• A strategic mindset combined with a hands-on approach.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence key stakeholders.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to lead through change.
• A commitment to integrity, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Why Join AALTO?

• Work on truly ground-breaking aerospace technology.
• Play a key role in the commercial success.
• Collaborate with highly skilled experts across engineering, manufacturing and programme delivery.
• Influence strategic procurement decisions across a growing organisation.
• Develop your career in a business transitioning from development into large-scale industrial operations.
• Enjoy a hybrid working environment based in Farnborough.

If you're an experienced procurement professional looking for an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace while building world-class procurement capability, we'd love to hear from you.